Informed Consent

Informed consent is the process in which a decision is agreed upon by a patient and a physician regarding a treatment for a medical problem.  The agreement should be verbal and written.  The discussion should be in language and words that the patient understands. The essential elements of the informed consent process should include the problem and the natural progression of the problem, the recommended treatment, alternative treatments, likely benefits of each treatment, the risks of each treatment, and an affirmation of understanding of the recommended treatment by the patient.  Orthopedic surgical procedures share common risks or complications that may be placed into groups which include but may not be limited to infection, damage to anatomic structures, bleeding, malposition of implants, the bone not healing or not integrating onto or into implants, medical complications, anesthetic complications, and death.  The discussion should include questions by the patient which should be answered to their satisfaction.  The patient must agree to the proposed treatment and express verbally and in writing their wish to proceed with the treatment.