[Written information as a basis for the individual instructive talk before standard operations of the ENT (author's...

Before any operation the patient is to be informed by his doctor thoroughly of the calculated risk between illness and operation so that he will be able to choose between the different methods of treatment. The information should not frighten the patient, but--on the other hand--should not diminish the realities of the situation. The patient's consent to the operation is only legal under the above mentioned conditions. Information-sheets have been presented to the patients before standard-operations of the ENT and have been in practice for 6 years. These sheets have been found helpful, as they are a basic source of information for the patient and a first step before a more thorough talk with his doctor which is then more informative and precise than it would be without the information recieved before hand.