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Circumcision and informed consent. Is more information always better?
J J Christensen-Szalanski1, W T Boyce, H Harrell
1Department of Management Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
Medical Care
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Physicians disclose few circumcision risks to parents. Comprehensive risk information did not change parental decisions but impacted attitudes, highlighting the need for flexible informed consent in medical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Informed Consent
Background:
- Physicians often provide limited information on medical complications and risks of elective circumcisions.
- Physicians' disclosure policies are based on subjective assessments of risk frequency and seriousness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze physicians' risk disclosure practices for elective circumcisions.
- To evaluate the impact of comprehensive risk disclosure on parental decision-making and attitudes.
- To explore implications for informed consent procedures.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of physician communication with parents regarding circumcision risks.
- Comparison of physician risk perception with parental risk perception.
- Intervention study involving comprehensive risk disclosure to mothers.
Main Results:
- Physicians disclosed only a small fraction of potential circumcision complications.
- Physicians' risk assessments were biased and underestimated seriousness compared to mothers'.
- Comprehensive risk disclosure did not alter circumcision decisions but negatively affected maternal attitudes and confidence.
Conclusions:
- Current physician practices for informing parents about circumcision risks are inadequate.
- Comprehensive, unbiased risk disclosure is crucial for truly informed consent.
- Physician communication strategies regarding medical risks require significant improvement to enhance patient autonomy and trust.