Chapter 4: Patient Autonomy & Informed Consent

These flashcards cover key concepts related to patient autonomy and informed consent, including definitions, ethical issues, legal aspects, and key takeaways for imaging professionals.

Autonomy

The patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions.

Informed Consent

The process where a patient gives written permission for a treatment after being informed about it.

Simple Consent

Basic permission for a procedure that does not require detailed knowledge.

Patient Preference Rule

Tell the patient what they want to know.

Professional Custom Rule

Tell the patient what is normally told to others in that situation.

Prudent Person Rule

Tell the patient what a reasonable person would need to know to make a decision.

Subjective Disclosure Rule

Tell the patient all information that is important to them specifically.

Competence

The patient's ability to understand and make decisions.

Incompetence

The inability to make rational decisions, which can be temporary or permanent.

Surrogacy

When a designated person makes decisions for a patient who is not competent.

Advance Directives

Legal documents where a person states their treatment wishes in case they become incompetent.

Patient Self-Determination Act (1991)

A law requiring healthcare facilities to inform patients of their right to refuse treatment and create advance directives.

Paternalism

When healthcare providers act like parents and think they know what's best without fully consulting the patient.

Therapeutic Privilege

A rarely used exception where a doctor can withhold information if it could seriously harm the patient's health.

Coercion

Pressure from family or doctors.

Torts

A civil wrong that causes harm, for which the victim can sue.

Intentional Torts

Acts that were meant to cause harm.

Assault

A threat to harm a person who believes the threat can be carried out.

Battery

Unauthorized touching of a person.

False Imprisonment

Unlawfully confining someone within a fixed area.

Negligence

Medical malpractice where care did not meet the standard.

Informed Consent - Legal Duty

The physician has the primary legal responsibility to obtain informed consent.

Consent Forms

Documentation used for recording consent, but do not replace necessary verbal explanations.

Professional Standard

The standard that requires a doctor to disclose what a reasonable doctor would disclose.

Lay Standard

The standard requiring a doctor to disclose what a reasonable patient needs to know.

Patient Advocate

Your role to help patients understand the procedure and feel comfortable.