Informed consent

J. A. Gold
American College of Legal Medicine, Milwaukee, Wis.

Under the law of informed consent, physicians must disclose to patients certain information about their medical condition and potential courses of treatment, and must obtain their consent to proceed. This article delineates the basic standards that govern such disclosure, with special reference to legal cases that have dealt with ophthalmic concerns. It concludes by discussing a number of special issues that have recently arisen in this area.