Virtual Patient Case: Informed Consent

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Credit Info: 0.5 Learning Hours — 1.5 Section 3 MOC Credits

In order for a patient to choose whether to have a treatment or not, they need to provide informed consent. Consent requires that 3 elements be present:

• The patient has received all the necessary information.
• The patient has the capacity to understand the information and appreciate the impact of the proposed treatment.
• The patient is not being coerced into having the treatment.

By the end of this case, you should be able to:

• Identify the information that must be disclosed to patients in the context of informed consent.
• List modalities that can improve the understanding and retention of information.
• Explain the impact of communication style on the creation of trust in the process of informed consent
• Give examples of patient centered communication strategies in the context of informed consent
• Recognize the conditions that make delegation of consent permissible
• Explain the role of good documentation as part of the informed consent process

Case Author: Richard Mimeault MD, Practice Improvement, Canadian Medical Protective Association

Virtual Patient Case Developers: David Fleiszer MDCM, Nancy Posel PhD

Case Audience: General Surgeons, General Surgery Residents and Fellows