[The right to information and the autonomy of the hospitalized elderly]

It was carried out a study with the aim to analyse the autonomy of hospitalised elderly, based on the comprehension about their rights of information and the informed consent on proposals of diagnosis and therapeutics. The results showed patient's lack of information, dissatisfaction on the degree of information. It was also verified that the patient's family frequently acts as information intermediary between the health team and the patient. Therefore, autonomy process of decision making was compromised, as well as the informed consent of the elderly.