The LSUHSC New Orleans Emergency Medicine Interest Group Presents The Student Procedure Manual

Informed Consent

Prior to attempting invasive procedures, an informed consent should be obtained from adult patients (if competent) or from guardians (if available). Laws regarding informed consent vary from state to state and this document signifies a consent to treat and acknowledgement of receipt of medical information. In cases of emergency and life-threatening circumstance, an emergent consent, involving two physicians, may be permissible, based on state laws. The general consent signed by the patient on arrival to the hospital covers all aspects of care considered standard and routine such as venipuncture, arterial blood gas sampling, peripheral venous catheterization, basic suturing, and injections.

Informed Consent Requires:

• Discussion of the nature of the patient's condition
  
• General nature and purpose of the proposed treatment or surgery
  
• All material risks of the proposed treatment or surgery
  
• Reasonable therapeutic alternatives and risks associated with such alternatives
  
• The opportunity for the patient to ask questions about the procedure, informed consent or alternatives.

The Louisiana Medical Disclosure Act requires the use of a general consent form with appendices for enumerated conditions. The use of these forms creates the legal presumption that the physician has properly obtained informed consent. In the case of comatose or otherwise incompetent patient, La. R.S. S 40.-provides that the physician may obtain consent through the following surrogates (in order of priority): advanced directive, power of attorney to make health care decisions, spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, more remote descendants or ascendants.