The Meaning of Consent
I was recently at the hospital with
a patient who was getting a complex surgery. The patient didn't seem to
understand what was going to happen during or after surgery. Just before
the surgery we saw the surgeon who was going to explain the procedure. The
surgeon had the consent form on a clipboard ready for signing.
I offered to read the consent with
or for the patient after the doctor explained the procedure. The doctor
did the explanation, handed the patient the forms and the patient signed
without reading.
The AMA says:
The process of informed consent
occurs when communication between a patient and physician results in the
patient’s authorization or agreement to undergo a specific medical intervention.
To enable patients to
participate meaningfully in decisions about health care, physicians have a
responsibility to provide information and help patients understand their
medical condition and options for treatment.
No where does it say
that the patient who signs, actually understands the procedure or
surgery only that they are authorizing the procedure /surgery.
So, does the consent
mean that the patient understands the procedure and risks? Maybe it means that to the clinician, To the
patient it may mean only that they are giving permission.
1 comment:
How true!! Surgeons are especially loathe to provide detailed descriptions of their procedures and would much prefer that patients demonstrate their "trust" in the surgeons abilities instead! And as most surgical procedures and consequences are well beyond the ability of the average person to understand, it seems fairly obvious (if not still befuddling) that patients are merely giving permission to perform the procedure without truly understanding their medical condition and treatment options! That would require far more time than most doctors, especially surgeons, are willing to invest in their patients.
Post a Comment