2. 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
3.
4. The Doctrine of Informed
Consent
• A fundamentally accepted
principle governing the
relationship between professional
nurses and all other health care
providers and patients.
5. The Role of the Physician
• In the majority of
circumstances, informed consent is
obtained for medical or surgical
procedures to be performed by
physicians
• Therefore, it is the duty of the physician
to inform the patient of alternative
treatments, the nature of the
procedure, and benefits and potential
risks
6. • Therefore, it is the duty of the physician
to inform the patient of alternative
treatments, the nature of the
procedure, and benefits and potential
risks
7. 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
8. Emancipated Minors
• Individuals who are under age 18
and married, parents of their own
children, or are self-sufficiently
living away from the family
domicile with parental consent
9. Legal Guardian
• In the case of a minor, informed
consent would be obtained from the
legal guardian
• In the case of individuals incapable of
understanding medical treatment
issues, informed consent must be
obtained through a responsible person
such as a guardian
10. 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
11. 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
12. • The informed consent should be
obtained before rendering the
treatment or performance of the
procedure.
13. • 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
14. 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.
