Practitioner's guide to informed consent

Abstract

Despite more than a generation of superb and often provocative literature concerning it,' informed consent remains the bete noire of the medical malpractice doctrine.To a large extent, the medical community has come to appreciate the stringent standards of care it must follow to avoid negligent malpractice actions once treatment has commenced. But the informed consent maze confronts the health care provider even before treatment is begun and may result in a claim notwithstanding otherwise sound medical care.