Obtaining consent: a meaningful dialogue is paramount

In her article about the preoperative consent process, Richards put into words what millions of people go through every year.1 Shared decision making is a self-descriptive phrase.23 Typically, there are two roles in the decision to proceed with any procedure: that of the clinician, whose job it is to know the science and evidence and advise on the best course, and of the patient, an expert in what matters to them most—how they feel, how they perceive risk, and what bodily functions are most important to them. Taking the opinion of one without the other is nonsensical.Paper consent forms are prone to errors and illegibility.456 More importantly, the content (the risks and benefits) discussed with the patient is highly variable, with frequent omission of “core” risks. If doctors don’t present the evidence correctly, then patients are unable to combine it with their personal viewpoint, and shared decision making fails.If risks…
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