[Physician's disclosure form a legal viewpoint]

Concerning the physician's duty to disclose information, it has to be distinguished between the information of the diagnosis, the therapeutical instructions on the patient's behaviour and the disclosure of the risks incidental to the treatment. Practically the last-mentioned is the most important, because the effectiveness of the patient's consent depends on its performance. In case the physician violates this duty, he is liable for battery, even if the medical procedure is performed skillfully. The modes of disclosure and its omission for therapeutical reasons are discussed.