Informed Consent

Every time you submit yourself for treatment from a medical professional, you need to give them informed consent before any action can be taken. Informed consent is a term used to describe the situation in which the patient receives adequate information regarding his or her condition, treatment options, and risks, and then gives the physician written allowance to administer care.

In cases where the patient is unable to give written consent – he or she is unconscious, suffering from a mental impairment, too young to comprehend the situation, or necessitates immediate treatment for survival – a legal guardian or authorized individual will instead give the OK for treatment, or the doctor will take the steps necessary to preserve the patient’s life.

The Informed Consent Form

By law, informed consent forms must contain the following components in order for the patient to adequately understand the situation and make an educated decision about his or her treatment:

• Adequate information about the patient’s medical condition
• Explanation of the proposed treatment, including its risks and benefits
• Explanation of alternative treatments, as well as their risks and benefits
• Information regarding the risks and potential consequences of refusing treatment

Both the patient and the doctor should sign the form in order to indicate that they discussed the patient’s condition and treatment options. Patients have the right to refuse treatment unless it is determined that they do not have the capacity to make an informed decision about their situation.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about informed consent and what you should expect to see on an informed consent form, contact the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 215-238-1130.