INFORMED CONSENT

Informed Consent on Healthcare Ethics

Informed Consent on Healthcare Ethics

Introduction

To understand the law and ethics of healthcare, it is first important to understand what informed consent is about. In simple terms, consent is simply about asking for permission. In healthcare issues, informed consent is to get approval from the patient for required medical treatment. This requires the enduring to sign a written consent document for the attention desired. Further informed consent in terms of health care is elaborated as the communication process between a physician and a patient for undergoing a particular medical intervention.

Informed consent is based on a communal resolution between the patient and the physician; in this regard, the required responsibility of the physician is to identify the values relevant to the patient and in return, it is necessary for the patient to recognize the nature of the syndrome and intervention (King, 1986, pp.12). These intrusions include the descriptions of all the necessary risk and benefits involved in the treatment of the patient.

The concept of informed consent in the healthcare ethics was introduced in the 1950's, and after that it developed rapidly throughout the system. The development in such regard helped increase the patient autonomy and a direct relation on changes in the medical and healthcare practice. The term informed consent helped solving issues on the paper or in the form of documentation. The concept of such theory was to assist all research procedures and surgical treatments of the patients concerning to their wish and will. The concept was also assisted for the nonsurgical activities required by the patient; the activity was helpful for identifying the risk involved for the general community standards and the patient. Moreover, the concept serves as a relationship symbol for patient-physician that tightens the principles of medical ethics.

Discussion

Identification

The essential concept of autonomy signify “self rule” helping the patient's to pull off the most fundamental right. Having such a basic right, it becomes the most important responsibility of the health care worker's to value and respect the independence of their patients (Vaccarino, 1978, pp.455). However, occasionally it becomes very difficult for the physicians to understand the concept of acquiring the patients consent because of the urgency or the requirement, which later causes the conflicts.

Medical Ethics - Case

Many consent related issues have come into concern and have formed a state of conflict between physicians and patients. One of the recent topics, in the cases for medical ethics has identified the respect of autonomy of patients (Veatch, 1997, pp. 288). The case was about a woman, whom was an erotic dancer suffering from abdominal aortic aneurysm, a disease well known to cause immediate death. Seeing the patients' condition, the physician recommended an instant surgery but the woman refused, even after knowing the consequences. The condition of the patient was so nervous that the physician performed the surgery without her consent.

The case portrays a perfect example of dismantling the informed consent related policy. It shows how the physician treated the woman without her consent, where the treatment performed ...