Is Uninformed Consent Unethical?

Is Uninformed Consent Unethical?

Introduction

Physician-patient relationship is the key-point for an optimal management of any medical procedure. Before performing any diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, clinical communication with patients is necessary. It should regard the nature and purpose of a proposed procedure including potential risks and benefits. During physician-patient communication, alternatives, as well as the risks and benefits of not receiving or undergoing a procedure should also be disclosed. Thus, a complete physician-patient clinical communication is the basis of "shared decision-making" and plays a clinical-therapeutic role in the informed consent process in order to improve patient care

The ethical principle of autonomy is one that ensures that patients have the right and freedom to participate in any medical decision involving effects on one of the most precious, which are health and your own body1. This principle protects an essential human right: the freedom of personal choice initially appeared to decide on religious worship and then extending it civil, political, or later at the health and body. Informed consent is a delicate process of communication between a patient and physician necessary for patient authorization for any medical intervention. The success of achieving good informed consent procedure depends on the strength of the relationship between the doctor and the patient. For this reason, the traditional paternalistic relationship, in which decisions were made by the doctor, is no longer appropriate. Therefore, the use of a model which allows for a greater patient involvement in the decision making process is fundamental. This approach allows for a clearer impact on patient values. The aspects of the procedure related to these values, combined with the technical and scientific considerations of the doctor, is the basis of a shared decision making process, in which the patient is actively involved. Therefore, an informed consent is not simply the acquisition of the patient's signature, but a real process based on the dialogue between doctor and patient.

The informed consent process should therefore be adapted to patient understanding linked to level of education, and personality. Cognitive impairment may limit the ability to actively participate in the process. In this context, physicians deal with three different situations on a daily basis: 1) patients with good cognitive functioning; 2) patients with various degrees of cognitive impairment; 3) patients with a legal guardian.

Informed Consent Means What?

Informed consent is more than a permit granted by the patient to do a particular procedure, is merely a formal act of nature documentary. It is a progressive, gradual, information and trust, where the doctor gives the patient the power to decide, after receiving all necessary information on course to take the diagnostic decisions and / or therapeutic. It is the cornerstone of the modern doctor-patient relationship, one where raw patient autonomy, freedom and respect for their rights. Informed consent is a process where the doctor gives, in a dialogue, information and explanation (because they are not the same) in simple language, understandable, about the procedure you want done. This information should disclose its nuances, the expected ...