Informed consent : part 1

Abstract

The use of the phrase 'informed consent' has become much of a cliche. People perhaps use it without appreciating the meaning. I was recently at a meeting in Brussels, and the document we were reviewing spoke about 'withdrawing informed consent'. You do not, of course withdraw informed consent; you withdraw consent. Informed consent is a process. Conversely, at a meeting with the Data Protection commissioner, an insurance company, argued that they obtained 'consent' from a lady in order to look into her hospital file. She was subsequently refused settlement. Was the process of consent a truly informed process? Given the fact it was not explained to her that in the event that she suffered from a related condition she would not get the settlement, one cannot argue that a legal consent was obtained. I will refrain from commenting on how the hospital actually gave them the records of the patient.