Patients rights to

Informed Consent

By: Johone May D. Victoriano BSN4

 Informed Consent

• Relates to the patient’s right to accept

or reject treatment by a nurse or any
other health care provider.

• A right of all legally competent adults

or emancipated minors.
Informed Consent Process
 The Doctrine of Informed
Consent

• A fundamentally accepted principle

governing the relationship between
professional nurse and all other health
care providers and patients.
 The Role of the Physician

• In the majority of circumstances,

informed consent is obtained for
medical or surgical procedures to be
performed by physicians
 The Role of the Nurse

• Oftentimes, especially when the

patient is hospitalized, the nurse is
required to witness the patient’s
signature before the procedure

• It is prudent for the nurse to note

witness to signature directly next to
the patient’s signature.
 Emancipated Minors

• Individuals who are under age and

married, parents of their own children,
or are self-sufficiently living away from
the family domicile with parental
consent.
 Legal Guardian

• In the case of a minor, informed

consent would be obtained from the
legal guradian

• In the case of individuals incapable of

understanding medical treatment
issues, informed consent must be
obtained through a responsible
person such as a guardian.
 Duty of the Nurse

• The nurse has the duty to verify that the

physician or other health care provider
has:

• Explained each treatment or

procedure in a language the patient
(or the responsible person) can
comprehend
• Warned the patient of any material
risks, dangers, or harms inherent in or
collateral to the treatment.
 Duty of the Nurse

• Advised the patient of available

alternatives

• This enables the patient to make an

intelligent and informed decision and
choice about whether to undergo
treatment
• The informed consent should be obtained
before rendering the treatment or
performance of the procedure.
• The nurse must document that the
informed consent was obtained and that
the patient understood the information

• The informed consent should be obtained

in the presence of a witness
 NURSING ALERT

With the increasing cultural diversity of

our patient population, it is prudent to
obtain an interpreter for the patient if
there is a reasonable chance that the
patient will not understand
explanations in the English language.
 Steps
1 Explain the procedure or treatment to the patient.

2 Explain the risks/benefits for the procedure or treatment along with any alternative options (if
applicable).

3 Explain the consent and decision making process so the patient understands what is expected of
them.

4 Allow time for the patient to deliberate before being asked to consent to a procedure or treatment.

5 Discuss the patient’s wishes, needs, views and expectations regarding any procedure or treatment.

6 Provide any relevant information not already covered, or any emerging information.

7 Has the patient understood?

8 Respect the patient’s decision.

9 Make sure the consent is documented. (The nature of the documentation may alter subject to the
nature of the procedure /treatment).
Thank You!