Informed consent as a framework for treatment: ethical and therapeutic considerations

Significant changes in the nature of doctor-patient relationships have required more patient involvement in decision making and the therapeutic use of informed consent. Particularly in family therapy, open acknowledgment and discussion of potential hazards of psychotherapy not only establish trust, but also can deflect patients' resistance to therapy and strengthen their commitment to the therapeutic work. Three case reports of the successful use of "informed consent as a treatment strategy" are described.