What Is Informed Consent?
Question: Is informed consent just a signature?
Answer: No. Informed consent means that after understandable information is provided about diagnosis, options, expected benefits, risks/complications, alternative treatments, and the postoperative process, the patient’s questions are answered and the patient makes a decision freely.
Question: What are the patient’s rights and responsibilities?
Answer:
- Physician’s responsibility: To explain risks, alternatives, and possible outcomes clearly.
- Patient’s right: To ask questions, seek a second opinion, take time, and decline if desired.
- Patient’s responsibility: To ask about unclear points and clarify the decision.
How should I prepare for the consent discussion?
- Definitely ask: “What happens if I do not have surgery?”
- Have alternatives written down: observation/medication/physical therapy/injection/surgery.
- Ask: “What are the 3 most common risks and what is done if they occur?”
- Request the postoperative plan: mobilization, wound care, follow-up schedule.
- Ask for a brief written summary of all of the above.
A one-page written summary (diagnosis–options–risks–plan) received at the end of the meeting helps patients make healthier decisions.