Informed Consent in Medical Treatment, an Overview

This book is basically a descriptive analysis of the very important factor in today¿s medical scenario i.e. ¿Consent¿ especially while commencing any special procedure or surgery on a patient who is no more a passive recipient of therapeutics and therapeutic misadventures but an active participant of the decision making process where it is left up to him finally to decide what to do with himself, and does he allow the doctor to even touch him. There have been instances where the patient has refused even a life saving therapy or procedure as he does not agree to the risks and the benefits of the same.This study tries to deal with the basics of the term ¿consent¿ describing it, keeping in mind its History and evolution. Thereafter it proceeds to define its types and the manners in which they are invoked be it implied or informed. The author then attempts to emphasize the importance of documented consent forms and process. This is especially relevant in today¿s medico legal era of sophisticated treatments and high State of the Art Infrastructure, where there are big commitments made regarding high quality of care rendered but sometimes which may not happen.