Avoiding surprises. A model for informing patients

Hastings Cent Rep. 2002 Sep-Oct;32(5):23-32.

Abstract

The standard models for what doctors must tell their patients are based on the idea of informed consent: physicians must provide the information that patients need to make treatment decisions. In fact, though, they usually provide considerably more information than this model requires. And rightly so: patients should receive enough information that they will not be surprised by whatever happens--unless the physician is also surprised.

MeSH terms

  • California
  • Decision Making
  • Ethics, Medical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Male
  • Malpractice
  • Morals
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Probability