Informed Consent and Shared Decision-Making in Modern Medicine: Case-Based Approach, Current Gaps and Practical...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Medical Ethics
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Personalized medicine and Systems Biology offer probabilistic models for cardiovascular care, but clinical adoption faces challenges.
• Shared decision-making (SDM) is crucial for managing complex cardiovascular treatments, emphasizing patient autonomy.
• P5 Medicine principles integrate psycho-cognitive factors with personalized, predictive, preventive, and participatory care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a 3-step methodology for implementing SDM and enhancing consent acquisition in cardiovascular care.
• To address gaps in current consent processes, including language complexity and information accessibility.
• To ensure consent processes are legally sound, respectful of patient autonomy, and mitigate medical liability.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 3-step methodological proposal for SDM and consent enhancement.
• Analysis of current consent practices, identifying complexities and needs of vulnerable populations.
• Review of International Guidelines on Medico-Legal Methods for consent ascertainment.

Main Results:

• The proposed method focuses on personalized patient engagement and clear consent procedures.
• Identified critical issues include consent language complexity, information dispersion, and specific needs of vulnerable groups.
• Acknowledged potential medical responsibility and liability issues arising from inadequate consent.

Conclusions:

• Implementation of AI can enhance decision-making and patient counseling in cardiovascular care.
• Strategies are proposed to ensure thorough, legally sound, and autonomy-respecting consent processes.
• The approach aims to improve patient understanding and engagement in their cardiovascular treatment decisions.