A general introduction

Abstract

This introductory chapter highlights the changing landscape in relation to the question of informed consent and the consequential impact of this on the legal frameworks in place in many parts of the world. Informational disclosure and informed consent are the focus of book one of the book series. This is a key foundational concept in health law and for many countries acts as the initial gateway to medical intervention. At the heart of contemporary medical ethics is the notion of self-determination and choice. How the concept of information disclosure and informed consent is understood and executed in different parts of the world varies widely; yet the concept of informed concept maintains some common characteristics that are shared and recognized around the world. The importance of informed consent is growing, both nationally and internationally - particularly as more patients become aware of their rights and seek to reinforce them. The countries in this book have been chosen to provide an insight across continents, representing a mix of jurisdictions: Australia, Canada (except Quebec), the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium, France, China, the Nordic countries, South Africa, Germany and Russia.