Informed consent and the family physician

Informed consent, regardless of patient recall, is required in increasing detail. The family physician must obtain consent from every patient for every procedure except for a few clearly defined areas: "Emergency," "Waiver," "Therapeutic Privilege," "Immaterial Risks," and "Generally Known Risks." Because courts have adopted the "reasonable patient" standard of disclosure, suits can be won without expert testimony. The elements of informed consent require explaining the nature of the procedure, the consequences that will probably occur, the material risks that may occur, alternatives available, and problems in recuperation. Consent, like any contract, is a meeting of the minds and the physician has an obligation to himself to document that agreement.