Informed consent generally includes:
- the nature of the problem / injury; clinical issues / diagnosis
- Uncertainties of the decision / diagnosis
- nature and purpose of the proposed treatment plan as well as alternative treatments
- the risks assoicated with the treatment plan
- the benefits of treatment plan
- reasonable alternatives to treatment plan, including alternative to not procede with treatment.
- risks and benefits of not being treated
- assessment of understanding and patient preference
Example Informed Consent:
We discussed the natural history, non-operative and operative treatments as well as no further treatment for: hip arthritis
We discussed the risk, benefits and expected rehab course of each treatment option.
Surgical benefits: pain relief
We discussed the risks of surgery including but not limited to: periprosthetic infection, periprosthetic fracture, leg length discrepancy, implant loosening and wear, need for revision surgery, incomplete relief of pain, incomplete return of function, nerve or vascular injury, joint stiffness or instability, weakness, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, tendon rupture, need for further surgery, and the risks of anesthesia including heart attack, stroke and death.
The patient understands the risks and benefits of surgery and has considered the potential risks against the potential benefits with their current level of pain and function and has elected to proceed with surgery.
Informed Consent Total Joint
We discussed the natural history, non-operative and operative treatments as well as no further treatment for:
joint arthritis
We discussed the risk, benefits and expected rehab course of each treatment option.
Surgical benefits: pain relief
We discussed the risks of surgery including but not limited to: periprosthetic infection, periprosthetic fracture, leg length discrepancy, implant loosening and wear, need for revision surgery, incomplete relief of pain, incomplete return of function, nerve or vascular injury, joint stiffness or instability, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, tendon rupture, and the risks of anesthesia including heart attack, stroke and death. After discussion they elected to proceed with surgery.
The patient understands the risks and benefits of surgery and has elected to proceed with surgery.
Informed Consent Arthroscopy
We discussed the natural history, non-operative and operative treatments as well as no further treatment for:
joint disorder
We discussed the risk, benefits and expected rehab course of each treatment option.
Surgical benefits: pain relief
We discussed the risks of surgery including but are not limited to: incomplete relief of pain, incomplete return of function, chondral injury, hemarthrosis / hematoma, DVT, joint stiffness, arthrofibrosis, recurrent tear, arthritis, infection, nerve or vascular injury, fluid extravasation, compartment syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, synovial fistula, and the risks of anesthesia including heart attack, stroke and death.
The patient understands the risks and benefits of surgery and has elected to proceed with surgery.
Informed Consent Fracture
We discussed the natural history, non-operative and operative treatments as well as no further treatment for:
fracture
We discussed the risk, benefits and expected rehab course of each treatment option.
Surgical benefits: function
We discussed the risks of surgery including, but not limited to: infection, nonunion, malunion, CRPS, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, nerve or vascular injury, stiffness, incomplete relief of pain, incomplete return of function, need for further surgery and the risks of anesthesia including heart attack, stroke and death.
The patient understands the risks and benefits of surgery and has elected to proceed with surgery.
Blood transfusion Risks
- Blood transfusion risks include but are not limited to: HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV, CMV, fatal or nonfatal hemolytic reaction, fever, urticaria, allergic reaction, graft-vs-host disease, alloimmunization