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Informed Consent
Which are better: general or procedure-specific forms?
Often, a procedure-specific form is better because it spells out the risks and benefits of a proposed treatment more clearly than a general one. Of course, patients who better appreciate what a proposed treatment entails will, in turn, likely make smarter decisions about their healthcare, comply more and, where an unexpected result occurs, stand by their original decision.
As an aside, please remember that obtaining informed consent is a process, not merely getting a signature on a form. By statute in most states, proper informed consent requires the provider to relate the: 1) proposed treatment or therapy; 2) risks and benefits; 3) likelihood of success; 4) treatment alternatives; and 5) potential outcome with no treatment. The risk list need not be exhaustive; only things materially likely to occur. Patients should be given plenty of time to review the form (preferably with the help of family and friends) and ask questions of the provider.
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The risk management advice presented in this Site is intended as general information of interest to physicians and other healthcare professionals. The recommendations and advice published on this Site do not reflect or establish a standard of care and do not establish rules for the practice of medicine. The publication of this information is not intended as an offer to insure such conditions or exposures, or to indicate that MAG Mutual Insurance Company will underwrite such risks for the reader. Our liability is limited to the specific written terms and conditions of actual insurance policies issued.
