The consent rate for video recording of consultations was examined in a semi-rural training practice in Scotland using a sample of over 1000 patients. An attempt was made to reduce the coercive methods of obtaining consent used in previous studies. In a first study explanatory letters were left in the waiting area - 273 patients returning to reception were asked if they wished to be filmed at a later date - 61 patients (22%) agreed. In a second study 830 patients were handed an explanatory letter asking if they wished to be filmed - 48 patients (6%) volunteered. The overall consent rate for the two studies combined was 10%. The low rate of consent obtained from these patients questions the propriety of using coercive methods.