What Emergency Physicians Should Know About Informed Consent: Legal Scenarios, Cases, and Caveats

• Published in: Academic emergency medicine 2014-08, Vol.21 (8), p.922-927
• Main Authors: Moore, Gregory P., Moffett, Peter M., Fider, Cyril, Moore, Malia J., Bogucki, Sandy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Consent Forms - history; Consent Forms - legislation & jurisprudence; Consent Forms - standards; Emergency medical care; Emergency Medicine - ethics; Emergency Medicine - history; Emergency Medicine - legislation & jurisprudence; Emergency Medicine - standards; Historical analysis; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Informed consent; Informed Consent - ethics; Informed Consent - history; Informed Consent - legislation & jurisprudence; Informed Consent - standards; Legal defense; Litigation; Malpractice - history; Malpractice - legislation & jurisprudence; Physicians; United States
• ISSN: 1069-6563; 1553-2712
• DOI: 10.1111/acem.12429

The basic concept of obtaining informed consent is familiar to emergency physicians, and many consider themselves well versed on the topic; however, lack of obtaining proper informed consent is a frequent source of lawsuits. The legal definitions and nuances of informed consent might surprise even the most experienced physician. This article will detail the historical legal evolution of the concept of informed consent. It will also report defining and recent court cases that illustrate the current medical–legal status of informed consent. Special scenarios, caveats, and documentation recommendations are discussed. After reading this article the emergency physician will know how to practice and document the appropriate aspects of informed consent in emergency medicine, as well as understand available legal defenses if a lawsuit should arise. Resumen El concepto básico de la obtención del consentimiento informado es familiar para los urgenciólogos y pueden considerarse a sí mimos bien informados en este tópico. Sin embargo, la ausencia de la obtención del consentimiento informado es una fuente frecuente de problemas legales. Las definiciones legales y matices del consentimiento informado pueden sorprender incluso a los médicos más experimentados. Este artículo detalla la evolución legal histórica del concepto de consentimiento informado. También documenta su definición así como casos recientes que ilustran el estado actual medico‐legal del consentimiento informado. Se discuten los escenarios especiales, advertencias, y recomendaciones en cuanto a documentación. Tras la lectura de este artículo, el urgenciólogo conocerá como practicar y documentar los aspectos apropiados del consentimiento informado en Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, y comprenderá las defensas legales disponibles en caso que tenga que hacer frente a una demanda.