Right to Informed Consent

Camila Mendes       

                      

       

According to Michael J. Schoppmann, a health care attorney, failure to obtain informed consent from their patients is one of the biggest reasons doctors get sued in U.S.A. Informed consent is an extremely important part of a patient’s care. With consent, the patient remains in control of the care they receive. Without consent, a doctor may not perform the specific procedure on a patient and failure to follow this law will not only often lead to a lawsuit, but a betrayal of their patient’s trust.

When the patient is admitted to the hospital, they have may need special care. The patient may receive surgery, such as a mastectomy (removal of the breast tissue). The patient may receive a cardioversion (fast heart rhythm is slowed through electrical impulses to the heart) to help stabilize their heart rhythm. The patient may also receive an invasive procedure such as a biopsy (removal of tissue to be observed). When these different procedures a performed, a patient needs to sign an informed consent form. This form states that the patient knows what the procedure is, why they will receive it, and the complications. If a patient does not sign the consent form, the hospital staff cannot begin the procedure. For this reason, this is one extremely important patient right. The patient should always have control over the care they receive.

The next time you or a family member is hospitalized, ask yourself if you or your family member signed an informed consent. If you are unsure about the procedure or treatment plan, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor. In order to make an informed decision about the best option for yourself or someone else, you first need to know what your options are.