Shared from Organic Gannet.

According to MedicineNet, informed consent is defined as:

“The process by which a patient learns about and understands the purpose, benefits, and potential risks of a medical or surgical intervention, including clinical trials, and then agrees to receive the treatment or participate in the trial.”

There are four parts to informed consent:

1. You must have the ability to make a decision.
2. The provider must give you ALL information on the treatment/procedure including benefits and all risks.
3. You must be able to understand the information being given.
4. You must voluntarily give consent to proceed WITHOUT feeling coerced.

Patients have the legal and ethical right to obtain enough information about a medical treatment to feel like they are making an informed decision. This decision does not have be the same decision your doctor would make or is suggesting you make.

Informed consent is the basis of medicine. It ensures the patient is actively involved in their own care and also establishes a trusting relationship between providers and patients.

Informed consent is NOT:

• getting minimal/skewed information
• minimizing risks associated
• feeling pressured to choose one way or another
• being disrespected or talked down to for your decision

Informed consent DOES:

• give the patient all pertinent information
• give the patient time to answer questions
• give the option to say yes OR no WITHOUT consequence
• make the patient feel respected in whatever decision they come to
• allows the patient to take into account their own intuition before making a decision

Medical providers are providing a service at charge for you. They work for you. You have the right to make any and all decisions regarding your health. You have the right to informed consent. This is important. This is a legal and ethical right. Demand it.

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