In a nutshell, informed consent is part of the process of a doctor advising a patient. The physician must provide information on any risks associated with the surgery or procedure a patient is about to have. The information that the doctor provides must be the same information that another reasonably prudent medical professional would have given. Once the doctor has discussed these points with the patient, the patient is given the opportunity to ask any questions or discuss their concerns. When this is complete, the patient signs an informed consent release form.