The World's Approach First, we will consider approaches of the world in medical decision making.
People often have to look to others for help when making medical decisions.
The information needed to make an informed decision can be hard to understand and not readily available to the average person. Also, people are often distressed with illness when they are expected to make some of these decisions. A reasonable description of what will be done along with risks and benefits is supposed to be provided. There is Biblical warrant for requiring informed consent in the Scripture's command to be truthful to one another and in the principle of personal responsibility. As medical people try to provide you with the information needed to make informed decisions, their guidance will vary.