Do I Have All the Information?

June 7, 2021

Informed consent. Do you understand this concept? I deal with informed consent on a daily basis because of my job. So when I hear it being discussed right now in the media, I don't even give it a second thought. I know it like the back of my hand - what it means, the aspects of what it should cover and the importance of it. I wanted to do due diligence here in this short blog and explain it in simple terms. I feel it is a very important part of helping a patient make the proper choice for themselves when they are seeking information about their care.

It needs to be done thoroughly every single time.

Just what is informed consent? On the surface, it can be simply presented as the process of getting permission before a procedure or treatment. However, there is quite a bit more involved with this which often is skipped over.

As a practitioner, obtaining informed consent can be cumbersome and time consuming. I must review all the details about what is going to happen, what can happen and also allow time for the person to ask questions. I must present all the information and speak to any questions and concerns without interjecting my personal bias. It can be a challenge to say the least but it is super important and prudent to do properly and completely. What I am observing right now in society does not seem to meet the criteria of what true informed consent should look like.

The main aspects of informed consent are really quite straight-forward: benefits, risks, alternatives and questions. Below I have laid out some concepts that you should be thinking about when someone is explaining a procedure to you.

Benefits

What are the benefits of receiving this type of care? Essentially the practitioner should be able to explain the positive outcomes that the person may expect with the treatment/procedure.

Risks

What are the risks involved in receiving this type of care? Here the negative aspects of the procedure should be laid out in a clear way. When I am obtaining informed consent, I am open and honest with what can happen. I do not downplay the risks or say there aren't any. There always is some level of risk to thoughtfully consider.

Alternatives

What other things can I do instead of what is being explained which might give me the same sort of benefit to the care which I am being offered? Do I have any other paths of care that would be as beneficial with different risk levels?

Questions/Concerns

What questions may have to be answered in an unbiased manner from the person obtaining the informed consent? Have my concerns been answered? As a practitioner, I need to have taken reasonable steps to make sure that the patient has understood the information presented.

Some other considerations to think about:

Consent needs to be voluntary. There shouldn't be any coercion to make the patient do what the doctor wants.

The patient must have the capacity to consent. Would a 12 year old have the capacity to understand the information given and make an informed decision? I am also seeing this right now in our society and I find it alarming to say the least.

This is from the Canadian Medical Protective Association:

"The doctrine of informed consent ensures the freedom of individuals to make choices about their medical care. It is the patient, not the physician, who ultimately must decide if treatment - any treatment - is to be administered."

The key thing that jumps out when I read this is that the patient is the one who is in charge of what treatment they receive. Your body, your choice. Please don't forget that. Be diligent in asking questions and getting all the information that you can.

I hope that the above has been helpful and also has broadened your understanding to the importance of being an active participant in your health decisions.