Proceso de consentimiento informado en cirugías programadas en un hospital militar

The aim of this study was to identify, in the informed consent process, the issues involved in information and decision to have surgery, specifically in military and civilian patients from Orthopedics and General Surgery at the Central Military Hospital in Bogota, Colombia, between October and December 2009. We conducted a cross-sectional study in which 386 semistructured interviews were applied to discharged patients. We found that 38.3% of respondents identified informed consent as a single point, related to the “signature of a document to authorize the surgery”. We also found that the military rank was associated with giving or not information about surgery and the IC, to the patient. Respect for individuals is unquestionable and its recognition is expressed in all supreme laws; based on this, the right to informed consent is ranked among the most important Human Rights. We propose, during the IC process, respect for the military patients and recognition of their rights and duties, regardless of military rank within a general framework of the physician – patient relationship, trying to make it the most ethical possibly.