Give Only Informed Consent

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All treatment decisions should be made—must be made—with the informed consent of the patient or patient's guardian. This means you need to know in detail, in terms you can clearly understand, all the risks entailed in any procedure involving surgery, anesthesia, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or similar medical encounter.

You'll be asked to sign a consent form. Do not sign a blank consent form. Make certain that the exact procedure is described and that you fully understand it. You have the right to set limits on these documents. You can cross out statements to which you do not consent.

You have the right to refuse treatment. An adult who is mentally competent can refuse treatment even if it may result in death. You need to understand clearly and completely all to which you are consenting.

Your doctor is obligated to inform you fully of any procedure to which you are being asked to give consent. This means explaining to you the procedure's purpose, risks, other alternatives, and the risk involved in not having the procedure. Don't be intimidated by the medical lingo. Make certain you get this information in language you understand. More important, make certain you ask detailed questions prior to giving any consent. Don't tolerate a physician's attitude that your concerns are unwelcome. If he or she is condescending or overly impatient, find another doctor. And be certain to include on your list of questions, "Why is this absolutely necessary?"

An Important Thing You Can Do

Ask your physician, not an associate, not an assistant, and not a nurse, to describe clearly the risks involved in your tests and treatment. Compare the risks to the expected benefits.