Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:Introduction to Health Care and Public Health in the U.S.
Unit:Regulating Health Care
Lecture:Legal Aspects of Medicine
Slide content:Informed Consent Requirement that patient be fully informed and give consent to treatment Process of communication between doctor and patient Required legally and ethically Absence can result in liability Battery Negligence 9
Slide notes:Informed consent is the concept that a patient must be fully informed about the proposed treatment before consenting to or refusing the treatment. This is required both legally and ethically. If the patient is a child or is not mentally competent, someone with legal authority must give consent for that person. Other exceptions exist, including principles that apply when a patient is unconscious or in an emergency situation. Informed consent should include more than just handing the patient a form to sign. It should be a process of communication between the patient and the health care professional. If a patient gives consent but is not fully informed, or if the patient does not give consent and the procedure is performed anyway, that can result in legal problems for the health care provider. 9