Regulation
Informed consent in practice, not just on paper
· Jude Ade
Consent is a conversation about alternatives and material risks; the signature only records it.
Consent is often treated as a document to be signed shortly before a procedure. Legally and ethically, it is the discussion that precedes the document.
A valid discussion covers the nature of the intervention, realistic alternatives including doing nothing, material risks and the expected recovery.
Materiality is judged from the patient's perspective. A risk that is statistically small may be decisive for a particular person's work or life.
Timing matters. Consent taken immediately before a procedure, when the patient is anxious or premedicated, is weaker than consent taken at the decision-making consultation.
Record the substance of the discussion, not merely that it occurred. A short note listing the alternatives and risks discussed is the strongest documentation.
This article is general education. It does not constitute individual medical advice and does not create a doctor–patient relationship. For emergencies, contact the emergency services in your current location.
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