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. 2010 Apr 7;34(7):1406–1415. doi: 10.1007/s00268-010-0542-0

A Review of Surgical Informed Consent: Past, Present, and Future. A Quest to Help Patients Make Better Decisions

Wouter K G Leclercq 1,✉, Bram J Keulers 2, Marc R M Scheltinga 1, Paul H M Spauwen 2, Gert-Jan van der Wilt 3
PMCID: PMC2895877  PMID: 20372902

Abstract

Background

Informed consent (IC) is a process requiring a competent doctor, adequate transfer of information, and consent of the patient. It is not just a signature on a piece of paper. Current consent processes in surgery are probably outdated and may require major changes to adjust them to modern day legislation. A literature search may provide an opportunity for enhancing the quality of the surgical IC (SIC) process.

Methods

Relevant English literature obtained from PubMed, Picarta, PsycINFO, and Google between 1993 and 2009 was reviewed.

Results

The body of literature with respect to SIC is slim and of moderate quality. The SIC process is an underestimated part of surgery and neither surgeons nor patients sufficiently realize its importance. Surgeons are not specifically trained and lack the competence to guide patients through a legally correct SIC process. Computerized programs can support the SIC process significantly but are rarely used for this purpose.

Conclusions

IC should be integrated into our surgical practice. Unfortunately, a big gap exists between the theoretical/legal best practice and the daily practice of IC. An optimally informed patient will have more realistic expectations regarding a surgical procedure and its associated risks. Well-informed patients will be more satisfied and file fewer legal claims. The use of interactive computer-based programs provides opportunities to improve the SIC process.

Introduction

Daily surgical practice is characterized by an increased complexity of the operative procedures while time pressure on the outpatient staff continues to increase. Moreover, a patient today tends to demand more extensive information from his/her doctors. Execution of these complicated processes must be legally sound. One way to cope with these developments is to optimize patient education in daily practice through computer-based techniques. A next step is to expand the focus from patient education to surgical informed consent (SIC). This overview provides a descriptive study of this challenging field of surgical practice.

Informed consent (IC) is a legal term that is supported by jurisdiction and international laws and is described as “voluntary authorization, by a patient or research subject, with full comprehension of the risks involved, for diagnostic or investigative procedures, and for medical and surgical treatment” (year introduced: 1973 (1971), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68007258?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Mesh.Mesh_ResultsPanel.Mesh_RVDocSum). Basic elements of IC are “preconditions,” “information,” and “consent.” Preconditions for proper IC include the patient’s competence and voluntariness. The information provided must be adequate and comprehensible. The consent of a patient authorizes the (surgical) procedure that will be performed.

The system of the patient giving consent for an invasive procedure or operation (surgical IC or SIC) has been common practice for many years. Providing appropriate preoperative information to a surgical patient is dictated by law and may prevent litigation. In spite of major developments in the law, information technology, and patients wishes, procedural aspects of SIC have not changed sufficiently over the last few decades in most hospitals. Surgeons prepare their patients randomly, and the quality of information will probably differ extensively. Patients are supposed to give SIC with (or without) written information.

Currently, patient education and patient-oriented care are important topics. Nevertheless, the literature on the quality of SIC is scarce. The initial concepts and laws on SIC are outdated and have been replaced by up-to-date legislation. Our hypothesis is that daily practice is still based on old habits and therefore is not as good as necessary to meet current needs. The aim of this review was to describe the pertinent literature concerning SIC and to provide suggestions to improve the SIC process in daily practice.

Methods

We were interested in identifying hard data in the literature that could be used to enhance the quality of the SIC process. Our objectives were to answer the following questions: (1) What are the fundamental elements of an adequate SIC process? (2) What is the current state of the SIC process? (3) How can we improve the quality of the SIC process in the future?

Search strategy

Relevant literature was identified in PubMed, Picarta, PsycINFO, and Google using the keywords/Mesh terms “informed consent,” “surgical procedures,” “operative,” “patient education,” “mental competency,” and “history.” Searches were performed by two surgical trainees (WL and BK) independently. All selected articles were scanned for relevant references or “related articles” (PubMed). Selection criteria included language (English publications or abstracts) and time period (January 1993–January 2009, with the exception of the legal cases).

Main results

A total of 2,952 articles was identified using the Mesh terms “surgical procedures” and “informed consent,” of which 2,567 were in English. Most of these articles were not related to the present study questions listed above, as operative procedures were tested which required an IC. Only a limited number of articles focused on the SIC process itself. Eventually, 175 articles were selected directly, through references, or a related article search. Of this body of literature, 71 articles met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of these articles was not possible because the studies differed in study design, tests used, and outcome measurement.

History of surgical informed consent

In medieval times doctors asked for a “hold harmless document” aimed at releasing them from any future responsibility to the patient or family in the event anything adverse happened following therapy. This pro corpore mortuoto can be found in Italian, French, and Middle East archives as early as the 14th century and is considered an early precursor of IC, although its purpose was to protect the doctor and not the patient [1–3]. The initial concept of current IC legislation developed in later centuries from case-related litigation into a standard practice (Fig. 1). Some bizarre landmark cases may be identified and are worth mentioning in the present overview. In the 18th century, a patient sued his doctor for refracturing his leg and experimenting with a novel external fixating mechanism without informing the patient or obtaining approval. This 1767 Slater vs. Baker and Stapleton trial was the first example of an IC case [4, 5]. The concept of IC was used in an 1845 novel by Edgar Allen Poe. A patient was asked for permission for an experimental therapy just before his death (Fig. 2) [6, 7].

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Landmarks in the history of the IC process: a timetable

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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American Review: A Whig Journal of Politics, Literature, Art, and Science (December 1845); publication of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The fact in the case of M. Valdemar.” Available at http://digital.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=amwh;idno=amwh0002-6

The fundamentals of today’s practice of SIC gained more structure at the beginning of 20th century, especially after the development of anesthesia and more invasive surgery (Fig. 1). In Mohr vs. Williams in 1905, a woman agreed to an operation on her right ear [8]. However, during the operation the surgeon found her left ear in the need of a repair. He was subsequently sued and convicted because he had not proceeded according to the preoperative agreement. The judge called this agreement a contract that authorizes the physician to operate only to the extent of the consent given [9]. In Schoendorff vs. Society of New York Hospital in 1914, Justice Benjamin Cardozo (Fig. 3) became famous for his judgment in the following case. A woman had consented to an abdominal examination under anesthesia but not to an operation [10]. Nevertheless, the surgeon removed a tumor that eventually led the patient to file a law suit. Cardozo’s opinion has become one of the most basic elements in the concept of SIC development: “Every human being of adult years and sound mind has a right to determine what shall be done with his own body, and a surgeon who performs an operation without the patient’s consent commits an assault for which he is liable in damages” [11–13]. A patient should be viewed as a person who has the right of bodily self-determination [5, 12].

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

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Cardozo, Benjamin Nathan. Online photograph from the Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-96738

After the Second World War, there was a strong public reaction to the cruelties committed by Nazi concentration camp “doctors” who performed horrible tests on “patients” without prior information or approval. A code was written as a direct result of the Nuremberg trials (U.S.A. vs. Karl Brandt et al.). This “Nuremberg Code” was an important step in the development of the IC process in trials (Fig. 4). It consisted of ten preconditions any human research study had to fulfill. Interestingly, the first governmental instruction for IC in trials originated in Germany and was written in 1900 [14]. Later on in 1964, The World Health Organization set the Declaration of Helsinki with 22 preconditions for human research. The 1957 case Salgo vs. Leland Stanford, Jr. University Board of Trustees introduced the term “informed consent,” and this term was accepted in Natanson vs. Kline in 1960 [12, 15, 16].

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

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Nuremberg Trial: the 23 defendants in dock during the doctors’ trial. Available at http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/nuremberg/docdef.jpg

At the same time, a development occurred in the domain of “information.” The 1957 UK case Bolam vs. Friern Hospital Management Committee focused on which risks should be discussed with a surgical patient [17]. This doctor-centered view resulted in a reasonable standard: Any surgeon should tell what other surgeons also tell their patients, a principle known as the Bolam principle [11]. However, the 1972 Canterbury vs. Spence case determined that all risks and alternatives of a procedure have to be explained [18]. This trial clearly demonstrated a shift from the doctors’ point of view toward the patients’ point of view as the standard of IC: the “reasonable patient standard” [11, 12, 19, 20]. Subsequently, the Australian High Court overruled the Bolam principle in the 1992 Roger vs. Whittaker case of a woman losing sight in her good eye after being operated on her diseased eye [21]. Although the risk of this happening was a mere 1:14,000, the court ruled that the surgeon should have informed the woman of the risk as she had apparently asked for this information. On the other hand, the doctor had considered this low risk not relevant [11, 20]. Although not totally abandoned, the “reasonable doctor standard” has become a secondary standard next to the “reasonable patient standard” in most countries [21]. Since the 1980 Truman vs. Thomas case, information provided in an IC process must also include the risks of “not acting or postponing” [22]. In this case, a Pap smear was refused by a woman who claimed not to know the associated risks, i.e., not detecting cancer in time for curative treatment [7].

Dutch legislators as well as governments from various other Western countries have realized that their legislation was out of date. Based on cases such as those mentioned above, several adjustments have led to the 1995 Dutch Medical Treatment Contract Act in which all elements of IC are present, including preconditions, information, and consent. Although legislation differs widely between countries, these “basic elements” are consistent in the Western world.

Present practice of surgical informed consent

Current elements of SIC

Based on historical cases and legislation, IC is supported by three cornerstones: “preconditions,” “information,” and “consent” (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

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The elements of IC

Preconditions include competence and voluntariness. A patient is a person who has a right of self-determination. He/she must be able to make decisions about his/her own body and must be able to decide freely without being influenced by others.

The second cornerstone is information. According to the 1995 WHO declaration on the promotion of patients rights, patients have the right to be fully informed about their health status, including the medical facts about their condition; about the proposed medical procedures, together with the potential risks and benefits of each procedure; about alternatives to the proposed procedures, including the effect of nontreatment; and about the diagnosis, prognosis, and progress of treatment [23]. All this information must be disclosed by the surgeon to enable the patient his/her right of self-determination. A well-defined care plan incorporating the surgeon’s advice should be discussed and it must be verified that the patient understands this information.

The third cornerstone is consent: registration of the patient’s decision and (written) consent [11, 24, 25].

Informed consent is often given by the patient during a preoperative consult with a consultant, a resident, or a specialized nurse. The information associated with a surgical procedure can be exchanged verbally, in writing, by video, or by computer technology. In this respect, large differences exist between countries. The US demands a patient signature, whereas a note in the patient chart is sufficient in the UK. In the Netherlands, doctors are not strictly required to obtain written consent [26].

Preconditions

As a routine, the patient’s competence is only “checked” in a general sense and deemed appropriate if communication with a patient is “normal” [27]. Only if the patient is officially “incompetent” will a legally appointed surrogate decision maker or an other representative in accordance with the law be allowed to decide for the patient [27]. However, a normal intelligence per se does not necessarily mean that a patient is really competent. Recently, Appelbaum [28] reviewed the literature on patient competence. A group of patients with known cognitive disease and patients with cancer demonstrated variable outcomes on competence tests. Lower scores were found in people of older age and limited education. The number of “incompetent” patients was higher than expected. Surprisingly, the doctor’s ability to differentiate between competent and incompetent was not better than throwing a dice [28].

On the other hand, even patients who are objectively deemed competent may be ignorant. They frequently do not know the process of SIC and do not know their rights, which results in wrong beliefs [29, 30]. Only 40% of the patients think that the IC paper confirms their wishes [29]. Interestingly, they usually do not feel the need for more information and their actual knowledge of the benefits and risks involved remains poor [31–35]. In contrast, when asked what information they would like to have, they indicate that they would like more information than they actually receive [36].

Several misconceptions also exist with respect to voluntariness. One study reveals that 46% of patients in the study were under the impression that the major goal of an IC is to protect the hospital from litigation. In addition, 68% of the patients were convinced that the IC process gives the doctor control of what is going to happen [29].

Information elements

Literature on patient education is extensive and is usually focused on informing patients in a general sense. On the other hand, studies on information in relation to the IC process are scarce. Results consistently demonstrate that neither doctors nor patients are well prepared for all elements of the IC process [19, 20, 30, 37–42]. Residents are frequently “in charge” of the IC process but do not know what to tell a patient and do not perform well in tests on IC and medical law [25, 37, 43]. In contrast, they are more capable in informing the patient of benefits of the surgical procedure than they are giving information about risks or alternatives [37]. Interestingly, 21% of patients in one study reported that they received most information from sources outside the hospital [44].

The way information is presented greatly influences what a patient remembers. Oral information is retained very poorly, and patients tend to forget crucial parts of information such as alternative treatment options [41, 45]. This will lead to false-negative feelings, particularly in patients with a IQ below average, age over 60, a tendency to somatization, or a poor perceived control [44]. On the other hand, better-informed patients will have more realistic expectations, higher satisfaction, and demonstrate more treatment cooperation [46]. A recent study reveals that a great difference exists between the points of view of surgeons and patients regarding relevance of information and what should be told or not told [36]. Another study demonstrates that patients are not interested in the IC form that is used, and two thirds of the patients do not read it carefully [44].

Studies on the patient’s comprehension of information are rare. Analyses of tapes of IC indicate that various elements of the surgical procedure are discussed in 71% of the cases. The assessment of whether the patients actually understand this information is performed in only 1.5% of the cases [41, 47]!

Consent elements

Studies focusing on the consent element indicate that consent forms are not composed very well [48, 49]. Readability is poor, and only a minority are written on a 12-year-old reading level, which is best practice [48–50]. More than half of all IC forms are filled out incorrectly [19, 51]. One retrospective study shows that the consent forms cannot be retrieved in 7.7% of the cases [19].

Future improvements of surgical informed consent

Substantial weaknesses and omissions of SIC are evident and the current elements of the SIC process are largely neglected in daily practice [19, 20, 27–35, 37–39, 41, 44, 45, 47, 48]. Preconditions are ignored, information is incomplete, and the consent itself is not an accurate reflection of the patient’s authorization. SIC apparently is not a popular part of the doctor–patient relationship, and presumably both parties are guilty. In the media surgeons are blamed for making mistakes and people are encouraged to “sue for every fault their surgeons make,” leading to an increase in medicolegal claims [35]. However, it should be realized that most legal cases are not due to failures in treatment but due to failure in communication [11, 35]. Discrepancies between expected and achieved results (55%) and faulty information (30%) are the main reasons for patients to file claims. In contrast to what one would expect, most complaints are generated after minor elective operations (70%) [52].

Articles analyzing the quality of the SIC forms and their performances in court were not identified in the present overview. Circumstantial evidence, however, supports the view that ample opportunities are available to improve not only these forms but the whole SIC process. An IC form is inadequate if it deals only with the IC form itself while omitting the incorporation of the information process or the quality of the total process. Several cases based on faulty forms resulted in successful claims: no documented alternatives, risks, or IC form at all [53]. Hence, a nonstandardized way of informing a patient of the risks of complications inherently results in a vulnerable position for the surgeon [25]. Both surgeons and their patients must realize that an improved and standardized IC process leads to more realistic expectations. Better-informed patients are more satisfied, have a higher commitment to their treatment, and demonstrate less tendency toward filing legal claims [53]. Both groups obviously have a lot to gain from an optimized SIC process.

Strengthening the surgeon’s education on SIC might look like an easy way to optimize the SIC process. However, training doctors, or specialised nurses, aimed at improving their skills in the SIC process is not very successful and this approach is very time consuming [38, 54–56].

A computer may aid the doctor help his patient receive high-quality SIC for elective procedures. It should be realized that computer programs do not undermine the doctor–patient relationship but are potentially valuable [40, 42]. The SIC should therefore ideally be performed using an integrated interactive computer program [40, 42, 56]. As most surgeons prefer to spend their time on surgery itself, they must consider introducing computer technology as an aid in the SIC process in daily surgical practice.

A number of validated tests have been developed to check the patient’s competence. A recent study demonstrates that the outcome of such a test is almost as consistent as an expert opinion [28]. Examples of such validated tests are the Mini-Mental State Examination, the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool, the Decision Evaluation Scales (DES), and the MacCaT-T [23, 28, 57]. All these tests are suitable for computer-based programs.

An effective way of informing patients about their surgical procedure might be by using computer-based information [23, 51, 58]. The more interactive information is provided, the more a patient remembers (Table 1) [11, 13, 24, 34, 40, 42, 58–76]. Nonetheless, the amount of information that is transferred during a preoperative consultation in an outpatient environment can be overwhelming [41]. If transfer of information is adjusted to the patient’s own speed and wishes in an interactive setting, he/she tends to comprehend more and will have better recapitulation [40–42, 66]. Surprisingly, patients with limited computer experience, a low educational level, or of old age appear to benefit [40, 52, 77, 78]. Validated tests have been developed to check if the patient actually understands the information [28, 57]. Using this approach, doctors buy time that can be used for discussing specific procedural details, personal questions, or emotions.

Table 1.

Overview of randomized controlled trials focused on IC

Author Journal Year of publication Specialism Country N Study groups Outcome in favor of study group(s)
Armstrong et al. [11] Br J Plast Surg 1997 Plast Surg UK 269 Oral vs. oral and written information Oral and written
Deyo et al. [64] Med Care 2000 Neuro/Ort USA 393 Oral and written information vs. pc-based video pc-based video
Chan et al. [61] Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002 Ent/Gen surg Canada 125 Oral vs. oral and written information with figures Oral and written with figures
Mason et al. [69] BJOG 2003 Gyn UK 31 Oral vs. oral and video information Oral and video
Rossi et al. [73] Arthroscopy 2005 Ort USA 150 Oral vs. oral and video information Oral and video
Danino et al. [62] Plast Reconstr Surg 2006 Plast Surg France 60 Oral vs. oral and video information Oral and video
Moseley et al. [71] Br J Ophthalmol 2006 Oph USA 90 Oral vs. oral and dia or video information Oral and dia or video
Keulers et al. [66] Patient Educ Couns 2007 Plast Surg Netherlands 113 Oral and written vs. pc-based information pc-based
Masood et al. [70] BJU Int 2007 Uro UK 45 Oral vs. oral and written information Oral only
Eggers et al. [42] Obesity 2007 Gen surg Germany 40 Oral and written information vs. Oral, written and pc-based information Oral, written, and pc-based information
Bollschweiler et al. [43] Ann Surg 2008 Gen surg Germany 76 Oral and written information vs. Oral, written and pc-based information Oral, written, and pc-based information
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N number of patients; Plast Surg plastic surgery; Neuro neurosurgery; Ort orthopedics; Ent ear nose throat; Gen Surg general surgery; Gyn gynecology; Oph ophthalmology; Uro urology

Recording the SIC process is of growing importance in medicolegal cases. Computer-based interactive IC programs have the advantage of recording every step a patient takes in gaining information [35]. In various empirical studies the consent form is replaced by a recorded patient authorization through a computer-based interface [40, 42, 79]. This approach focuses on only the consent part of the process; it does not check whether a patient is competent or understands the information sufficiently. Basically, it is nothing more than a digitized IC form [40, 42].

More research is necessary to improve the SIC process in daily practice. We have recently developed a SIC program based on the best available practice as described in this review. This program uses an online interface that can be used at home or at the hospital for patients needing more guidance. In this program, patients are first screened for their competence. Then basic information on their specific surgical procedure is provided through text, audio information, and flash movies. Many words are highlighted (hyperlinked) and can be selected for extra information. Patients can also select other options for extra information on logistic, medical, or legal items. The patient’s level of knowledge is checked at the end of this information part. If insufficient information is retained, these items are repeated because basic information must be trustworthy before the consent part starts. The consent part of SIC provides an overview of the surgical procedure, its risks, and alternatives. The patient or the surgeon can print out the form and both can sign it after all remaining questions are answered. This program will be evaluated on a national level in an upcoming trial and may ideally be integrated into our future practice.

Practice implication for an adequate IC process

General

  1. Professionalize and structure your SIC and do not rely on good intent.

  2. Focus on all operations, not just on the major operations.

  3. Make patients and doctors aware of the importance of an adequate SIC.

  4. Teach your patient what IC is.

  5. Make sure the patient realizes he/she is in control and not the doctor.

  6. Do not be afraid to use an interactive computer to help you, the doctor, and the patient.

Competence

Check your patient’s competence and do not count on your clinical insight.

Information

  1. Provide locally adapted information and try not to use general information.

  2. Check if your patient understands your plan of operation, e.g., ask the patient to repeat the information.

  3. Check if your patient understands the risks and the alternatives.

Consent

Register the SIC process in detail using an adequate IC form, and check that it is filled in correctly and store it in a safe place.

Research

Check for more research to be published as SIC is not a fixed format but a developing area of medicine.

Acknowledgments

We thank Professor H. D. C. Roscam Abbing, Emeritus Professor of Department of Law, Economics and Governance, University Medical Centre Utrecht (Utrecht, The Netherlands) for her valuable contributions to early versions of this article. The study was supported by the Stichting Hart- en Vaatziekten Zuid-Nederland.

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

Footnotes

W. K. G. Leclercq and B. J. Keulers contributed equally to this work.

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