Understanding the Informed Consent Form

Whenever you visit a doctor’s office for diagnosis of and treatment for a health problem, the physician is required to present you with what is known as an informed consent form. This document covers all pertinent information regarding the medical assessment and care to be delivered to the patient. After the patient has gone over the informed consent form, he or she is allowed to either accept or decline the proposed treatment.

What is included in an informed consent form?

Informed consent forms must contain enough information in them for the patient to fully understand his or her diagnosis and the proposed treatment for his or her condition. In general, the following is generally contained in an informed consent document:

• An explanation of the patient’s medical condition, as diagnosed by the physician
• An explanation of the proposed treatment for the condition, including the risks and benefits associated with accepting it
• An explanation of alternative treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits
• A description of the consequences associated with not accepting the proposed treatment (or any treatment at all)

In order for a patient to give informed consent to the medical practitioner, he or she must receive and understand the information provided in the informed consent form, have the capacity to make the decision, and voluntarily provide the medical practitioner with permission to perform the proposed treatment.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about informed consent forms and the responsibilities that physicians have to provide information to their patients, contact the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 215-238-1130 with any questions you may have.