The patient' right to self-determination: complexities of informed consent

Mark L. Jewell, MD, Eugene, OR , is Chair of the ASAPS Communication.There is a seemingly endless variety of information available to educate patients about aesthetic plastic surgery and other cosmetic treatments, ranging from Web sites to surgical videos. As a result, a patient often arrives for the first consultation with unrealistic expectations as well as misconceptions about the risks associated with cosmetic surgery. In order to make informed decisions that are both personally and medically appropriate, the patient must truly understand the risks and benefits of the available treatment options.The process of informed consent is an opportunity for the plastic surgeon to build a relationship of respect and trust with the patient. At the same time, it fulfills one of the physician's most important responsibilities—ensuring that patients are given information that enables them to make informed choices about their health care.First and foremost, the doctor-patient relationship must be an ethical one. A physician must respect the patient's right to self-determination and provide the patient with the information needed to make a rational decision. Understanding risk is a crucial step in this decision-making process, …