Source: http://calpatientguide.org/ii.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 13:55:43+00:00

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You have the right to know all risks, benefits and treatment alternatives before consenting to any treatment.
You have the right to refuse treatment by withholding your consent.
Informed consent is more than merely your agreement to a particular treatment or procedure. Informed consent is your agreement to a proposed course of treatment based on receiving clear, understandable information about the treatment's potential benefits and risks.1 You must also be informed about all treatments available for your health condition, and the risks of receiving no treatment.
WHY IS INFORMED CONSENT IMPORTANT TO ME?
The decision to accept (consent to) or reject (refuse to consent to) a treatment, therapy or medication is ultimately yours to make -- not your doctor's or other health care provider's.
You must take an active role in order to receive high quality health care. The first step is having the appropriate information about your medical condition. Once you know about all the risks, benefits and treatment alternatives, you may decide the risks are too great or the benefits too few to justify undergoing the treatment. With this kind of information, you may choose to refuse the treatment by withholding your consent.
IS MY INFORMED CONSENT ALWAYS REQUIRED FOR ALL MEDICAL TESTS OR PROCEDURES?
Most of the time, yes. While your informed consent is usually required, there are two exceptions where your doctor does not need to have your informed consent before beginning treatment.
The first occurs when a "simple and common" procedure, such as a typical blood screening is performed. When risks from such procedures are commonly understood to be remote, your doctor need not discuss the risks, benefits or alternatives to the procedure with you.2 You must still agree to the procedure, however, before it is done.
No treatment can be given if the doctor knows or has reason to know that the patient has previously executed a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or a Declaration under the Natural Death Act that expressly refuses life saving treatment.
IS THE DOCTOR REQUIRED TO TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO ME ABOUT INFORMED CONSENT?
Yes. Your doctor has a duty to fully inform you about all of the risks and benefits of suggested treatments in terms you can understand.
HOW DO I GIVE THE DOCTOR INFORMED CONSENT?
Often, your informed consent comes informally in the course of discussion with your doctor during a routine office visit or similar situation.
Informed consent can also be given formally, by signing a document that states your doctor has fully discussed a treatment or procedure with you and that you have acknowledged and agreed to the risks. In a formal consent, you are usually asked to sign a form titled "Informed Consent to Treatment," or something similar. This is especially true in situations involving hospitalization, surgery or invasive testing.
WHEN SHOULD MY DOCTOR DISCUSS THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF A PROPOSED COURSE OF TREATMENT AND ANY TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES WITH ME?
You are sometimes asked, as a routine part of filling out medical history and personal information forms, to sign an informed consent document. This sometimes happens before you see the doctor or care provider and before you have had the treatment and/or any alternatives explained and before there has been any chance to ask any questions.
Never sign any such document until AFTER there has been a full opportunity to have all of your questions answered and concerns discussed.
WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK SO I CAN GIVE "INFORMED CONSENT?"
What is the condition, disease, or problem called?
How do you recommend treating it?
What is the complication (morbidity) rate for this treatment?
What is the mortality (death) rate for patients in my condition using this treatment?
What other treatments are available? Why are those not recommended?
What will happen if I don't do anything?
How many patients have you cared for with this problem? How many patients have you performed this surgery or this test on?
What is your success rate in treating this problem?
If I undergo this treatment, will it prevent me from using an alternative treatment if needed?
Are you board certified in the specialty that treats this disease or condition?
What can I expect if I undergo this treatment?
Will I be able to work and/or care for myself?
How much pain or discomfort will I be in?
Will this treatment cause other problems?
What can I expect if I don't undergo this treatment?
What are the potential risks, complications or side affects associated with the alternative treatment?
IS THE DOCTOR LIMITED BY MY INFORMED CONSENT?
This is also true under the Emergency Exception previously discussed.20 Your doctor may only do what is necessary to stabilize you and eliminate the emergency situation. If a procedure can safely be postponed until informed consent is obtained, then it must be postponed. If the doctor does not postpone the procedure when it is safe to do so, you may sue him for battery if you would have refused to give consent.
WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS IF THE DOCTOR DOESN'T GET MY CONSENT, OR PERFORMS SERVICES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF MY INFORMED CONSENT?
You should report any health care provider who fails to get your informed consent for treatment to the appropriate regulatory agency. These agencies will conduct an investigation that may result in disciplinary action against the physician, care provider, or medical organization.
Cobbs v. Grant (1972) 8 Cal.3d 229.
Cal. Business & Professions Code § 2397(a)(2).
California Business & Professions Code § 2397(c)(2) and (c)(3).
Cobbs v. Grant (1972) 8 Cal.3d 229, 243-244.
Cal. Business & Professions Code § 2397(a)(3).
Cal. Admin. Code §§ 51305.1 - 51305.4.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1690.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 109275.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 109280 and § 109282.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 109278.
Cal. Welfare & Institutions Code § 5326.6.
Cal. Welfare & Institutions Code § 5326.5.
Moore v. Regents of the University of California (1990) 51 Cal. 3d 120.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 24173 & § 24175.
See 45 C.F.R. Part 46.
If a physician obtains consent for treatment based on a particular condition and the physician fails to fulfill that condition, then the physician may be liable for battery; for example the patient consents to surgery if it is performed by a particular surgeon, and another surgeon performs the procedure. Ashcraft v. King (1991) 228 Cal.App.3d 604.
Ashcroft v.King (1991) 228 Cal.App.3d 604.
California Business & Professions Code § 2397.
If a doctor obtains consent for a treatment based on a particular condition and the doctor fails to fulfill that condtion, then the doctor may still be liable for battery. For example, if you consent to surgery to be performed by a particular surgeon, but another surgeon performs the procedure, you may be able to sue the original surgeon for battery. Ashcroft v.King (1991) 228 Cal.App.3d 604.

References: v. 
 § 2397
 § 2397
 v. 
 § 2397
 § 1690
 § 109275
 § 109280
 § 109282
 § 109278
 § 5326
 § 5326
 v. 
 § 24173
 § 24175
 v. 
 § 2397