Ethics and Policy Informed Consent
RRM Academy Synopsis
ACOG says ob-gyn informed consent needs clear information and choice
ACOG states that informed consent for adult patients in obstetrics and gynecology requires clear information, the ability to understand it, and a free choice. The 2021 Committee Opinion adds new guidance on shared decision making.
Key Findings
- The committee states that the obstetrician-gynecologist owes the patient information that is adequate, accurate, and easy to understand.
- The committee states that the patient must be able to understand and reason through that information, and must be free to ask questions.
- The committee states that the patient must be free to make a deliberate, voluntary choice, which may include refusing care or treatment.
- Shared decision making is an individualized, patient-centered approach. It weighs the benefits and risks of treatment options against the patient's values and priorities.
- Some consent challenges arise across all of medicine. Others arise more often in obstetrics and gynecology.
Interpretation
The source here is the published abstract of a Committee Opinion, a consensus guidance document from a professional society. The abstract states the ethical framework and the scope: adult patients in clinical practice. The practical steps appear in the full document.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine looks for the root cause before treatment. Couples then learn why a problem occurs before they choose a treatment. The committee describes shared decision making as weighing treatment benefits and risks against the patient's values.
Abstract
Meeting the ethical obligations of informed consent requires that an obstetrician-gynecologist gives the patient adequate, accurate, and understandable information and requires that the patient has the ability to understand and reason through this information and is free to ask questions and to make an intentional and voluntary choice, which may include refusal of care or treatment. Shared decision making is a patient-centered, individualized approach to the informed consent process that involves discussion of the benefits and risks of available treatment options in the context of a patient's values and priorities. Some informed consent challenges are universal to medicine, whereas other challenges arise more commonly in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology than in other specialty areas. This Committee Opinion focuses on informed consent for adult patients in clinical practice and provides new guidance on the practical application of informed consent through shared decision making. The principles outlined in this Committee Opinion will help support the obstetrician-gynecologist in the patient-centered informed consent process.
