Complications within consent
Alderson, P.
Bulletin of Medical Ethics 2005(210): 15-19
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0962-9564 PMID: 16471007 Document Number: 585651
The consent process is intended to protect patients, prevent complaint and litigation, and help practitioners to be accountable, to justify their decisions, and to inform and involve patients/parents in their health care. Medico-legal guidance poses uncertainties and dilemmas that can undermine these aims and deter some practitioners from informing and involving patients/parents in decision making. Greater recognition of contradictions and limitations in the guidance on consent could assist practitioners and patients/parents in their shared decision making.