What is informed consent?

Informed consent refers to the permission given by a person before surgery or other kinds of medical treatments. The patient, or a parent/guardian, must understand the potential risks and benefits of the treatment and legally agree to accept those risks in writing. Furthermore, the risks and possible side effects must be explained in easy-to-understand language that the patient can understand. If, however, you are unable to give informed consent in the event of illness or accident that makes it impossible, medical professionals can proceed without obtaining informed consent. Giving consent to a procedure, however, does not necessarily waive your legal rights - the doctor still has to follow through using the proper standard of care, and you still may have a claim if the health provider functions incompetently.