Informed Consent

When a patient is admitted to a hospital or medical center, he or she is required to give informed consent (if possible) before the practicing physician can administer any sort of medical treatment. Informed consent is a legal agreement between the doctor and the patient. It states that the doctor has provided adequate information on the patient’s condition and recommended treatment and the patient has received and fully understands this information.

What is contained in an informed consent form?

While informed consent forms may vary from place to place, these documents all contain the same general information. They all require understanding and communication from both parties. Without informed consent, the doctor is not legally allowed to perform any sort of treatment on the patient.

According to the American Medical Association, the guidelines for creating an informed consent form state that the document must contain the following elements:

• Diagnosis and explanation of the patient’s condition
• Purpose and explanation of the recommended treatment
• Risks/benefits associated with the recommended treatment
• Any alternative treatment options that may be available, as well as their risks and benefits
• All risks and benefits associated with not receiving any treatment whatsoever

On top of providing the patient with the informed consent form, the physician should also open him or herself up for any questions the patient may have. Most importantly, the informed consent procedure is in place to ensure communication and clear up any questions or concerns that either party may have.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about informed consent or would like to learn more about the conditions of an informed consent form, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 215-238-1130.