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Discussion 1
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Discuss the elements of informed consent and provide a clinical example about what can happen when some elements are not adhered to.
Informed consent is the granted permission of the patient in the acknowledgement of the possible consequences of the procedure/treatment sought. Informed consent should include the rendering of treatment with full knowledge of the possible risks, benefits and also, the alternatives.
What are the 4 principles of informed consent as per the literature?
What is informed consent and what does it mean?
What are the three elements of informed consent?
Why is informed consent such an important aspect of the work we do?Bottom of Form
RE: Discussion 1
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Informed consent refers to the process by which healthcare providers educate patients about the benefits, risks, and the available alternatives of a particular treatment procedure or intervention. It allows the patient to make a voluntary decision regarding whether to undergo the given treatment intervention/procedure. In the U.S, informed consent is both a legal and ethical obligation of medical practitioners as it involves the protection of patients’ rights. There are several elements of informed consent. These elements include a description of the intervention’s risks and discomforts, descriptions of the benefits, patient confidentiality, voluntary participation, and description of alternative procedures or treatments. The patient must be educated about the benefits as well as any risks and discomforts associated with a given treatment procedure or intervention to enable them to make an informed decision. Also, the patient should be educated on any alternative procedures and treatments to make an informed decision on which procedure or treatment to undertake. Again, the patient should be allowed to undertake a given treatment procedure or intervention voluntarily. Moreover, health care practitioners must ensure a high level of patient confidentiality; hence they should not disclose medical information to other individuals without their consent. In a clinical scenario where one or more informed consent elements are not adhered to, the involved physicians or health practitioners may be held liable for medical malpractice. Therefore, the patient has a right to file a lawsuit against the physicians based on the lack of informed consent.
Katz, A. L., Webb, S. A., & Committee on Bioethics. (2016). Informed consent in decision-making in pediatric practice. Pediatrics, 138(2).
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You wrote about the consent, and the importance of the practitioner to be aware of their educational responsibility and legal consequences. You did state that the provider could be held liable for medical malpractice as well. Would it be malpractice, or would this be negligence? And why?
I look forward to your view on this question.
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