[Informed consent of the esophageal cancer]

An informed consent (IC) is composed of sufficient explanation from medical providers about illness and proposed treatment and its acceptance by a patient with a principal intention to protect patients. Esophageal cancer has some characteristic features in contrast to other malignancy that is (1) high prevalence in elderly with advanced stage (2) significant malignant potential in nature (3) high surgical risk with mortality of 3% and morbidity of over 50% (4) availability of diverse treatment modality such as resection, irradiation and chemotherapy. Therefore it is highly advised for medical providers to inform patients of their diagnosis and explain anticipated surgical risks to help them understand the negative features mentioned above although extent of revelation of illness should be highly individualized according to the judgment of medical providers. It is also mandatory for medical providers to inform patients of available treatment modalities applicable according to the stage of disease and evaluated surgical risk before obtaining a consent to a proposed treatment. Illustrated figures advocate patients to further understand the stage of disease, the necessity of proposed treatment, surgical risk with anticipated complication etc, and explanatory forms if accompanied are even more helpful in this respect. An informed consent is to be signed to verify the acceptance of a proposed treatment by a patients who has been fully aware of illness. An informed consent should be utilized to establish ensured patient, doctor relationship through its make-up process instead of being considered as an exclusive legal document of agreement.