Classic Ethical Dilemma: When Is it Acceptable to Treat Patients over Their Objection?

Informed consent is the foundation of the ethical practice of surgery. All surgeons are familiar with the ethical responsibility to obtain informed consent from patients or their appropriate surrogates before performing surgical procedures. Given this broad acceptance for respecting the autonomous choices of patients, which is manifested by the requirement for informed consent, how can it be that many patients undergo operations or have other interventions despite their objections to having the procedures?

Source: Journal of the American College of Surgeons - September 22, 2021 Category: Surgery Authors: Peter Angelos Tags: Invited commentary Source Type: research