What is informed consent?

 

A: Although the exact legal definition of informed consent varies from state to state, it essentially means that the patient has made a knowing decision about a medical treatment, or procedure.
 
An informed consent in Florida requires 3 things:

  1. The nature of the treatment or procedure
  2. The substantial risks and hazards of the treatment or procedure
  3. The reasonable alternatives to the treatment or procedure.

If after being advised of these 3 things, in a language and terms the individual can understand, a person (or their guardian or parent) then consents to the procedure, or treatment, then informed consent has taken place.

Jeffrey Meldon Tip:   It is always best to have a treatment or procedure explained to you and its risks by the actual medical professional who is going to be performing it.

There are 2 types of informed consent; “express” consent which is given in writing or verbally and “implied” consent which is understood from the circumstances surroundings the procedure, and is not in writing.

Jeffrey Meldon Tip:   Patients are entitled to complete information about treatments or procedures that they will undergo.  Failure to provide the information can subject the health care provider to legal liability.