Informed consent is based on a number of ethical principles the medical community adheres to with the ultimate goal of maintaining integrity, excellence and respect.
Whether you are a doctor or patient, it is important to understand the full implications of informed consent. Informed consent requires that the patient be made fully aware of his diagnosis, the nature of the treatment, the potential benefits and risks, alternative treatments and the potential benefits and risks of forgoing treatment.
If the doctor omits any of this information, whether it be unintentional or purposeful, he has violated the patient's right to informed consent. A doctor must acknowledge that each of his patients has the right to self-determination. Methods like enhanced consent forms and multimedia interventions during informed consent have shown mixed results, while only additional time spent in one-on-one interviews significantly improved understanding and recall of information.
Informed consent is required for any investigation or treatment proposed to a patient. Understanding of the nature of procedure, benefits and risks are the cornerstones of informed consent. While autonomy is one of the four main ethical principles, I argue that there is no absolute right to autonomy or consent.
On a philosophical basis an absolute right to autonomy and consent contradicts itself. Several restrictions in the right to consent are set by the legal framework in the United Kingdom or England. UK Law regulates the right to consent for minors, mentally ill patients, patients with incapacity and patients with communicable diseases. Their rights to consent are restricted and in special circumstances not granted. Disclosure of information without consent is mandatory in infectious diseases cases and legal in cases where the doctor believes that non-disclosure will leave the public in danger.
Furthermore patients can be recruited to studies of emergency medical treatment without consent under strict EU regulation. On a legal basis there is no absolute right to consent therefore. While this increases the right of consent and improves patient autonomy to refuse treatment, there is no right to demand treatment if this is considered medically inappropriate futile for example by the treating medical practitioner.
Looking at the practical aspects of consent shows that the information provided is often poorly understood and retained. Patients giving consent are doing so without being truly informed. As shown in the chapter practical aspects this will often not be noticed by the treating doctor or researcher.
It is difficult to conceive an absolute right to consent in practice, when the effort to supply information required for informed consent fails so often. On the basis of philosophical, ethical, legal and practical considerations, however, there is no absolute right to consent.
Habiba MA Examining consent within the patient-doctor-relationship. Journal of Medical Ethics 2. The Oxford Dictionary of new English, Oxford. Oxford University Press, 3. King J Informed consent: A review of empirical evidence. Institute of Medical Ethics Bulletin supp 3: 5. Singapore Medical Journal 6. Oncology Nursing 7. Journal of Medical Ethics 8. Gillon R. Medical ethics: Four principles plus attention to scope. Re C adult refusal of treatment [] 1WLR Samata A, Samata B Advance directives, best interests and clinical judgement: shifting sands at the end of life.
Clinical Medicine Mental Capacity Act The Stationary Office, Mental Health Act Written consent form template Written consent form template.
Template information sheet for online research Template information sheet for online research. Template email consent form Template email consent form. Description File download Any relevant advertising or recruiting material poster, email text, social media advert if applicable Template poster advert Template poster advert.
Oral consent script template Oral consent script template. Researcher record of oral consent template Researcher record of oral consent template. Template agreements. Expand All Cases where 'implied consent' may be acceptable for example online surveys.
This is seen most often in research: where researchers have no direct contact with participants, for example a research survey deployed via an online survey platform such as JISC, but please see: BPG 06 Internet-mediated research BPG 06 Internet-mediated research. When consent works against the aims of research. Related links Where and how to apply for ethical review Committee information Research ethics FAQs and glossary Research integrity and ethics policy Ethics committee contacts.
Was this page useful? Please tell us why:. Feedback for page. Leave this field blank. Any relevant advertising or recruiting material poster, email text, social media advert. Template poster advert Template poster advert. Template information sheet for online research For online tasks only, where there is no face-to-face contact with human participants. Simple consent would involve 1 question: "Did the patient agree to the surgery?
As patient advocates and essential members of the health care team for surgical patients, enlightened nurses can contribute meaningfully to the informed consent process. In addition, nurses can augment the process to elevate it from simple consent or empty documentation to an avenue for meaningful shared decision making. Patient Rights Condition of Participation.
Steinberg A. Disclosure of information and informed consent: ethical and practical considerations. J Child Neurol. Medical informed consent: general considerations for physicians. Mayo Clin Proc. Informed consent: it's not just signing a form. Thorac Surg Clin. King JS, Moulton B. Rethinking informed consent: the case for shared medical decision-making. Am Law Med. Effect of informed consent format on patient anxiety, knowledge, and satisfaction. Am Heart J. Beyond informed consent: educating the patient.
Clin Orthop Relat Res. Enhancement of surgical informed consent by addition of repeat back: a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial. Ann Surg. Henderson G. Is informed consent broken? Am J Med Sci. Florida Health Care Advance Directives.
Fla Stat [S] Florida Health Care Surrogate Act. Fla Stat [S] Article Content Shared decision making is at the foundation of a mutually respectful relationship between a health care provider and a patient. Review of Literature History Historically, the requirement that physicians involve patients in decisions has evolved from simple consent to informed consent.
Distinction Between Form and Process The informed consent form may be regarded by some hospitals or surgeons as offering legal protection. Conclusions When nurses and surgeons collaborate to properly execute an informed consent, patient autonomy can be achieved.
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