Medical Concerns re the Meaning of Consent: Consent Versus Informal Consent

What does the word consent mean in the realm of medical ethics? More importantly, what does it signify for you and yours with respect to your health care status?

The word consent means to “give approval, assent, or permission.”

It has more advanced implications in terms of informed consent, in the realm of medical ethics. This is where it begins to affect you and your family members, in respect to health care.

We normally understand what it means to say yes to something that we are in agreement with and what it means to say no, when we are not. In other words, we can agree to take medication prescribed by a doctor, if it is appropriate and refuse it, if we are aware of possible problems like allergies.

Legally, what does consent mean?

“Consent: in law, voluntary agreement with an action proposed by another. Consent is an act of reason; the person giving consent must be of sufficient mental capacity and be in possession of all essential information in order to give valid consent.”

What does informed consent mean?

“Informed consent: consent of a patient or other recipient of services based on the principles of autonomy and privacy; this has become the requirement at the center of morally valid decision making in health care and research.”

“Seven criteria define informed consent: (1) competence to understand and to decide, (2) voluntary decision making, (3) disclosure of material information, (4) recommendation of a plan, (5) comprehension of terms (3) and (4), (6) decision in favor of a plan, and (7) authorization of the plan.”

Do these criteria need further explanation? If you do require a further explanation for them, it may be a good idea to speak directly to your health care professional about your specific concerns.

The moral aspect of consent has to do with the fact that life is sacred. Unfortunately, not every race, creed or culture looks at life that way.

Why is this so important in our era?

Note that the word consent is not always life oriented and that is why informed medical consent becomes so important with respect to health care. There can be other moral, legal and ethical implications in terms of consent or informed consent.

Consider the following examples.

The medicalization of marijuana is just one area of concern, because in consenting to treatment with marijuana for illness or pain, there can be other concerns that one might not be aware of including the addiction factor. Agreeing to treatment without informed consent makes a person vulnerable. While most medical practitioners are morally, legally and ethically responsible, that may not always be the case.   

Euthenasia or the taking of a life to end a person’s pain and suffering, may enter into the picture. A patient may unknowingly consent or give informed consent to what he or she perceives as a medical procedure called euthanasia, because he or she trusts in the judgment of his or her professional, medical caregiver.  

The bottom line is being informed or fully aware of what you are agreeing to or giving consent to, in terms of your health care and health care givers. 

You have the freedom to consent or not to consent, but informed consent is always important.