[Patient information: advancements in jurisprudence. The example of silicone]

Medical procedures are performed in the context of a contract between the physician and the patient. Failure to comply with this contract may engage the physician's responsibility. For a long time, the physician's responsibility was engaged because of technical errors or, more rarely, lack of information or consent, which had to be proved by the patient. In the case of litigation, a recent decision by the Court of Appeal (25 February 1997) requires physicians to demonstrate that they have effectively and validly informed the patient. This article studies the content of this information. It suggests a method which, set up under the authority of scientific societies, would allow, in our discipline, the proposal of information forms designed to inform our patients and to preserve our responsibility. Finally, this approach is illustrated by the study of tolerability of materials containing silicone.