Informed Consent Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts related to informed consent, ethical justifications, legal standards, and challenges in medical practice.

Informed Consent

A process by which a patient voluntarily confirms their willingness to undergo a particular treatment after being informed of all relevant facts, risks, and alternatives.

Competence

The ability of an individual to make informed decisions regarding their own medical care.

Autonomy

The right of individuals to make decisions for themselves and control their own lives.

Kantian Defense

An ethical justification for autonomy based on the concept that rational agents should be treated as ends in themselves.

Therapeutic Privilege

The right of a physician to withhold information from a patient if disclosing it could cause harm.

Emergency Exception

A situation where informed consent may not be obtained due to immediate medical need.

Rule Utilitarian Defense

The ethical principle that actions are right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Elements of Disclosure

The crucial components that must be communicated to a patient, including the nature of the procedure, risks, and alternatives.

Patient-Oriented Standard

The standard for determining relevant information based on what a reasonable patient would want to know.

Incompetence

A legal status where an individual is unable to make informed decisions due to mental or emotional limitations.

Legal Standards

Guidelines in law that dictate how informed consent must be obtained and what information must be disclosed.

Human Research

Research conducted on human subjects, often subject to stricter ethical standards than medical treatment.

Coercion

The act of compelling a person to act against their will or better judgment through pressure or intimidation.

Decisional Capacity

The ability of an individual to understand and process information necessary to make informed choices.

Nuremberg Trials

A series of military tribunals held after World War II to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany for war crimes, which emphasized the need for informed consent in research.

Medicolegal Considerations

The interplay between medical practice and legal standards related to patient consent and rights.