Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I

Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I

In healthcare, informed consent is a crucial process that involves thoroughly communicating medical treatment options to patients, including benefits, risks, potential side effects, and alternatives. This process enables patients to make well-informed decisions about their care, ensuring they understand the implications of their choices before consenting to or refusing treatment.
The legal responsibilities of a nurse regarding informed consent include the following:

Legal Guidelines for Documentation

Legal Guidelines for Documentation

The legal guidelines for nursing documentation are essential for ensuring accurate, professional, and ethical recording of patient care. The guidelines are discussed here:

Standards of Care II

Standards of Care II

Nurses bear specific legal responsibilities under several federal statutes, including:

Introduction to Documentation and Reporting

Introduction to Documentation and Reporting

Documentation is the systematic process of formally recording, maintaining, and communicating information.
Nursing documentation records essential information and details regarding a patient's care and treatment in written or electronic form. It is a critical aspect of nursing practice that involves documenting assessments, interventions, outcomes, and other relevant details about a patient's health status.
Documentation maps the patient's health journey by creating a comprehensive and precise...

Ethics in Research

Ethics in Research

Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.

Ethical Standards I

Ethical Standards I

The American Nurses Association (ANA) created and implemented the first nationally accepted Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. The Code of Ethics is a living document regularly updated by the ANA and establishes an ethical standard that is non-negotiable for nurses in all roles and settings.
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Scope of practice...standard of practice...standard of care...what is my/your obligation?

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2012

Same author

Ethical and legal considerations in teen aesthetic surgery.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2012

Same author

Do I need my own malpractice insurance?

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2011

Same author

Implications of postsurgical pain mismanagement.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2011

Same journal

Using Facial Recognition Tools for Health Assessment.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2021

Same journal

Providing Optimal Rejuvenation to the Jawline and Perioral Area Using Neuromodulators and Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2021

Same journal

Satisfaction With Expectations-Based Education in Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2021

Same journal

Advice From a Millennial Nurse About Becoming a New Aesthetic Injector in 2021.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2021

Same journal

Improving Interprofessional Teamwork in Plastic Surgery: A Novel Approach to Microsurgical Skills Training.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2021

Same journal

A Review of Aesthetic Gynecologic Procedures for Women.

Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses·2021

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Published on: November 26, 2015

Informed consent: it is more than just a document.

C Leigh Wilhite¹

¹Edwards & Ragatz, P.A., Jacksonville, FL 32202, USA. clw@edwardsragatz.com

Plastic Surgical Nursing : Official Journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses

|January 11, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Informed consent protects healthcare providers from litigation if patient consent aligns with accepted practice and understanding of risks. Courts may deny claims if a reasonable patient would have accepted the treatment, even if consent was imperfectly obtained.

More Related Videos

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Published on: July 31, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Published on: November 26, 2015

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Published on: July 31, 2017

Area of Science:

Medical Law
Patient Rights
Healthcare Ethics

Background:

Healthcare professionals face increasing litigation risks.
Valid informed consent is crucial for patient treatment and provider protection.
Understanding legal standards for informed consent is essential for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

To clarify the legal standards for valid informed consent in healthcare.
To define conditions under which providers are protected from liability for treatment without explicit informed consent.
To emphasize the importance of informed consent beyond a mere signed document.

Main Methods:

Analysis of legal precedents and standards of practice regarding informed consent.
Examination of criteria for a reasonable patient's understanding of medical procedures and risks.
Review of legal presumptions associated with written, signed consent forms.

Main Results:

Providers are protected if consent procedures meet accepted standards or if a reasonable patient would have accepted the treatment.
Courts often deny recovery if the patient would have undergone the procedure despite any consent issues.
Written consent, properly signed by a competent individual, creates a rebuttable presumption of validity.

Conclusions:

Informed consent is a critical legal and ethical component of patient care.
Healthcare providers must adhere to established standards to ensure valid consent and mitigate litigation risk.
The 'informed' aspect of consent requires clear communication of procedures, alternatives, and risks to the patient.