Informed Consent

Informed Consent
Informed Consent: A Moral Obligation or a Legal Obligation? Today, medical practice is not simple due to various factors that negatively affect the doctor-patient relationship. Mutual trust forms the basis of a good doctor-patient relationship. Today, given the existence of print and visual media that deal with “beauty”, “shape, size and appearance of different body parts”, “quality and quantity of hair”, etc., patients approach dermatologists with unrealistic demands and expectations. Therefore, it is very necessary to provide adequate information and educate the patient about the facts and obtain informed consent before subjecting the patient to any type of test, procedure or surgery.
What is informed consent? Informed consent is a mandatory document when performing all surgical and cosmetic procedures, especially on the day of the operation. The presence of appropriate documentation is important in any informed consent.The ethical dimension of the concept of consent stems from the ethical principle of patient autonomy and fundamental human rights. The patient has the freedom to decide what should or should not happen to his body and to obtain information in this regard before undergoing a test or surgery. No one else has the right to force the patient to act in a certain way. Even the doctor can only play the role of a facilitator in the patient’s decision-making.
The legal dimension There is also a legal perspective on this concept. No one has the right to even touch another person, let alone treat them, and any action taken without permission entails punishment. Therefore, obtaining consent is essential for anything other than a routine physical examination.What is meant by consent? In simple terms, it can be defined as a means of establishing mutual communication between the doctor and the patient (by expressing permission, authority, and choice) so that the doctor can act in a specific way that he or she deems appropriate.
Express or implied consent – The act of the patient “entering the doctor’s room and expressing his or her problem” is considered as implied consent for a general physical examination and routine investigations. However, more detailed examinations, especially in women, invasive tests, and high-risk procedures, require explicit consent. Explicit consent can be oral or written. Written consent is preferable in cases involving long-term follow-up, high-risk interventions, and cosmetic procedures. – In addition, obtaining consent is required for taking photographs of the patient for scientific, educational, research, or follow-up purposes.If there is a possibility that the patient’s identity will be revealed when the content is published, specific consent should be obtained from the patient. – Consent is also required for participation in clinical trials and research projects.
Informed consent Informed consent should be obtained after the patient has been provided with sufficient information to enable them to make an appropriate and informed decision. Therefore, accurate, sufficient and relevant information should be provided correctly, using non-scientific terms and language that the patient can understand.
Providing information to the patient The information provided should include the following: the condition, disease or disorder from which the patient suffers; the need for further testing; the natural course of the condition and possible complications; the consequences of not treating it; the treatment options available; the possible risks and benefits of the treatment options; the approximate duration and cost of treatment; the expected results; and the necessary follow-up.The patient should be given an opportunity to ask questions and have all doubts cleared. There should also be no coercion. Consent should be voluntary and the patient should be free to withdraw consent. Consent obtained due to fear of harm or intimidation, misconception or misrepresentation of facts is not valid. Prerequisites for obtaining consent from the patient * To give consent, the patient must be competent; that is, he must be an adult and of sound mind. * In the case of children, consent must be obtained from the parents. * In the case of incapacitated persons, close family members or legal guardians can give consent.How much information is enough? When obtaining informed consent, the patient must be provided with sufficient information; but it is not easy to answer the question of how much information is “enough”? A citizen may expect and request detailed information. On the other hand, an illiterate person may tell his doctor: “I have no … One of the measures taken to ensure patient safety is to obtain informed consent from them. In situations where multiple procedures are required for the patient, a separate informed consent form must be completed for each procedure. For example: a hysterectomy that requires blood transfusion requires written consent from the attending physician for the hysterectomy procedure, separate consent for the blood transfusion, and separate written consent for anesthesia by the anesthesiologist