To be ‘generally recognized and accepted,’ a medical treatment must have a consensus of support among reasonably prudent professionals in the field. This entails acknowledgment from reputable medical organizations, widespread use in clinical practice, and backing by scientific studies. Courts tend to rely on expert testimony and authoritative guidelines to assess the standard of care.
For example: A doctor recommending a novel chemotherapy regimen would need to demonstrate that this approach is supported by research and endorsed by oncology societies to meet the informed consent standards.