Ethical Requirement for an Informed Consent Essay

Patient Informed Consent

Introduction

Patients in the hospital setting often face situations that require their decision-making to enable the delivery of treatment services that are customized to their specific needs. For effective decision-making, they receive critical information concerning the potential benefits and risks of the relevant testing and care services that resonate with their health needs to solicit their permission for caregivers to deliver the required care services. After deciding whether to approve the caregivers’ intention to conduct some procedures, the patients offer informed consent to indicate their willingness to partake in testing, treatment, or clinical trials. Informed consent refers to a legal and ethical principle that requires a person to give their voluntary and knowledgeable agreement to undergo a medical treatment, participate in research, or receive healthcare services. As a process, it involves providing the individual with sufficient information about the procedure, including potential risks and benefits, alternative treatments, and the possible consequences of not receiving treatment. A deeper insight into this process requires an analysis of its historical aspects, current research knowledge, application in nursing care, and current or future management.

For a concept to portray a rational meaning, it is imperative to decipher its purpose and significance in an appropriate professional field where it is applicable. The purpose of informed consent is to ensure that patients or research participants have a deep understanding of what they agree to and are fully aware of the potential risks and benefits of their decision. The concept is a crucial aspect of ethical medical practice, as it protects patients’ autonomy and rights to make decisions about their health care. Further, Cusack et al. (2018, p. 827) acknowledge that informed consent builds trust between patients and healthcare providers by demonstrating transparency and respect for patients’ rights and preferences. Obtaining informed consent assists healthcare providers in reducing the risk of legal liability, as patients are less likely to file a lawsuit if they feel they have been adequately informed and have consented (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Ultimately, informed consent ensures that medical treatments, procedures, and research are conducted in a manner that is respectful, ethical, and in the best interests of patients within the healthcare profession.

The validity of informed consent depends on several key factors, including the individual’s capacity to give consent, the quality and comprehensiveness of the information provided, and the absence of coercion or undue influence. Foremost, the individual must be legally and mentally capable of providing informed consent, which implies they must have the cognitive ability to understand the information provided and the legal capacity to make decisions about their health care. Another principal factor is that information provided must be accurate, complete, and presented in a language and format that the individual can understand (Taylor & Brogan, 2020). For instance, a patient needs accurate information about the nature and purpose of the treatment or procedure, potential risks and benefits, alternative treatments, and potential consequences of not receiving treatment (Millum & Bromwich, 2021, p. 57). Finally, the individual must consent voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence from healthcare providers, family members, or others. Coercion can take many forms, such as offering incentives or making threats, and can compromise the individual’s ability to make a free and informed decision. Consent that meets these criteria or depicts all the above chief considerations is valid.

Background, Current Knowledge, and Implications for the Future

Historical Background

The idea of informed consent has its roots in the ancient Greek Hippocratic Oath, which required physicians to obtain the consent of their patients before treating them. Informed consent was not explicitly mentioned in the ancient Greek Hippocratic Oath, but the oath emphasized respecting patients and maintaining confidentiality. Physicians were expected to act in their patient’s best interest and avoid causing harm, an ethical framework that laid the foundation for the modern concept of informed consent. Moreover, the Hippocratic oath emphasizes the importance of teaching and learning in medicine (Wiesing, 2020, p.84). Physicians were expected to share their knowledge and skills while continuing to learn and improve their practice. This commitment to education and professional development is still fundamental to modern medical practice. While the concept of informed consent may not have been explicitly ment