The Importance of Informed Consent

When a doctor wishes to perform a medical procedure on his or her patient, the doctor must gain the patient's informed consent before being allowed to proceed. Informed consent is an important part of medicine that has few exceptions, as failure to gain consent may result in unwanted procedures and treatments.

Gaining informed consent means informing the patient of the procedure to be performed and the risks involved, as well as answering his or her questions before he or she agrees to undergo the treatment.

This is important, as patients may know facts about their medical backgrounds that make the procedures unfavorable. Additionally, patients do have the right to refuse treatment if they choose that they would rather live with an ailment than go through a potentially painful procedure.

When a doctor or other healthcare provider informs a patient of a procedure, he or she may not leave out information to make the procedure seem more favorable. Additionally, the medical professional may not tell a patient that one procedure is his or her only option when, in reality, he or she has more.

Both of these forms of deception are considered coercion on the part of the medical professional. Coercion may also include forcing a patient to receive treatment against his or her will.

There is one main exception to the consent rule, which is when an individual cannot give his or her informed consent and a next of kin or legal guardian cannot be found within a reasonable period. In these cases, healthcare providers may perform procedures only if the procedure is essential to saving the individual's life.

When a medical professional fails to gain your informed consent for a procedure and you suffer an injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your suffering.