Informed consent is a cornerstone of good surgical and medical practice. It is a general legal and ethical principle that patients are informed about any proposed treatment or investigation and that they are fully aware of the associated risks and benefits before deciding whether or not to proceed. The numbers and costs of medical negligence claims are increasing, particularly in the field of hand surgery.1 Other authors have described how a thorough consent process, including an open and detailed discussion of potential complications, may reduce the chances of litigation. It has been suggested that for patients "frustration is the difference between expectation and reality".
展开▼
