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Informed Consent

          The importance of informed consent is to allow the patient to have a say in his or her healthcare decisions. The elements of informed consent are:

The patient is informed about the nature of the procedure being performed

• The patient is informed of any alternatives
• The patient is informed about the risks and benefits of all alternatives
• Voluntary acceptance of the treatment regimen by the patient.

           It is important not to coerce the patient into taking any decision. All the options must be explained in simple, non-technical language. It is important for doctors to remember that a sick patient feels vulnerable. The process of informed consent is to put the patient at ease about what the doctor is doing. It is not merely obtaining the patient’s signature.

           Invasive procedures usually require a patient’s informed consent. These include all surgical procedures and administration of anesthesia. There are some standards of informed consent. These are:

• Physician standard: This refers to the amount of information that a physician considers adequate. He will tell the patient as much as he feels is appropriate. The problem with this standard is that it gives importance to the doctor rather than the patient’s need.
• Patient standard: This refers to the amount of knowledge a patient would need in order to understand everything. The onus is on the patient rather than the physician.
• Subjective standard: Providing information according to the individual patient and his condition.

           Many states have legislation that sets the appropriate standards for informed consent.

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