Informed consent and the disclosure of surgeon experience

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of ethical issues and legal precedent relevant to informed consent for surgical procedures including the disclosure of the surgeon’s experience. The process of informed consent will be examined in a systematic fashion, including methods to improve physician-patient communication and important considerations for documentation of the consent process. Ethical principles including respect for patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficience, distributive justice, and duty to tell the truth will be explored as relevant to the doctrine of informed consent.