The Surgical Informed Consent Process: Myth or Reality?

Informed consent is currently considered to be a highly important factor which is becoming a critical component of surgical practice. It is a complex process and not just an event or a single encounter. In the twenty-first century, it is accepted that the traditional paternalist relationship between the patient and physician has been replaced by a new type of relationship in which the patient detents a very active and crucial role. For patients who need a surgical procedure, the informed consent process represents the honing of this link between the surgeon and his or her patient. The legal principle emphasizes the fact that the patient is an independent adult who has the capacity to authorize what is going to be done to his or her body. This is a process with significant ethical and legal aspects where both the surgeon and the patient play a major role.