What is informed consent?
Our legal consultants have provided us with defined informed consent criteria. If all of these informed consent characteristics are included in the patient’s education before treatment, there is no need to worry. What follows is a discussion of the characteristics of adequate informed consent and some information about each of them. Click on the 6 titles for a more detailed discussion.
- Treatment Alternatives
- Advantages of Each Alternative
- Disadvantages of Each Alternative
- Risks of Each Alternative
- Costs of Each Alternative
- Result of Doing Nothing at All
At the completion of the patient data collection and education appointment, the dentist should come into the operatory, listen to patient questions, summarize the information that the staff person has provided, and obtain a signed informed-consent document concerning the treatment to be performed and the education the patient has received.
If all of these steps are taken before any treatment is started, you have satisfied the informed consent criteria.