Patients' informed consent requires understanding of treatment risks

The need for patient consent to medical treatment derives from the idea that the patient is morally obligated to take ordinary means to preserve his or her life. The physician has only that right over the patient which the patient gives him. To ensure that patient treatment decisions are responsible, consent must be both free and informed. Free consent generally implies that the patient is under no pressure to choose a particular course of action. Informed consent suggests that the physician has a duty to give the patient sufficient information about a proposed procedure's significant risks and benefits. The patient need not receive comprehensive knowledge of the treatment, however, since overdisclosure can interfere with the freedom to decide by playing on patient fears. Though some patients simply disregard treatment information or rely on other factors in their decision making, physicians should not abandon attempts to attain patient understanding. They must develop communication skills and exercise patience in their efforts to explain treatments and obtain consent. Proxies and patient advocates also may be requested, and physicians may consult with their colleagues to guarantee that the patient's best interests are met.