The American Medical Association states that informed consent is “fundamental in both ethics and law.” That’s why patients have the following rights:
To make decisions about their medical treatment
To make well-considered decisions about their course of treatment
Information about the recommended treatment
The opportunity to ask questions
A patient has the right to refuse medical treatment. Before a patient can give their informed agreement to a procedure, they should be apprised of the potential risks of the procedure.
A patient should be informed about the nature of their diagnosis and is entitled to know about the nature and purpose of the recommended treatment.
The doctor needs to explain the burdens, risks, and expected benefits of all options. This includes expensive options and even the option of refusing treatment. Only with all the information and the chance to ask questions can a patient truly understand the possible risks and rewards of a proposed medical treatment.