What is informed consent and refusal?
Informed consent is a process of information dissemination. It involves providing the patient with sufficient, evidence-based information so she can make a decision that reflects self-determination, autonomy, and control. It is a process of information exchange. It is based upon involving patients in the decision making process. Every pregnant woman has the right to make informed decisions about the care for herself and her fetus. Examples of judicial interventions that support patient rights: Schloendorff v. Society of New York Hospitals, 1914. Health care provider held liable for failure to get patient’s consent to surgery. Salgo versus Leland Stanford Jr. University Board of Trustees, 1957. Health care provider held liable for withholding information necessary for making an informed decision. The essential components of informed consent and refusal Numerous national and international professional associations promote patients’ rights to informed consent and refusal, including the Am
