Medicolegal issues (Documentation/Informed consent/Non-physician operators)

Abstract

The number of elective laser and light procedures continues to grow eliciting a host of medicolegal issues. Informed consent involves a meeting of the minds as a result of a discussion between the provider and the patient. The risks, benefits and alternatives of a procedure should be disclosed to a patient and is paramount to an informed consent. Unique patient and physician concerns regarding the laser procedure should be documented when possible. The informed consent process might benefit from supplementary modes of communication such as patient questionnaires to improve retention rates. Most laser procedures require for laser individualized informed consents.