Getting informed consent from your patients

Knowledge is the fundamental constituent of self-determination and knowledge is power. Shifting the natural power balance in the healthcare context is essential if clinicians are to truly embrace the concept of patient autonomy and assist patients in making informed decisions about their own healthcare.

This article attempts to demystify the concept of informed consent by examining three fundamental points:

• Consent is a process and not a form.
• The process of informed consent requires adequate allocation of time.
• The process of informed consent requires comprehensive communication.

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This article was written from the Irish perspective.