title: Informed consent.
abstract: The origins of informed consent come from philosophy, medical experimentation, the law, and contemporary trends in doctor and patient relationships. Every surgical patient signs an informed consent form but the literature would suggest that many times there is incomplete information conveyed by the physicians or understood by the patient. Informed consent should be considered as an expression of respect for patient autonomy and the patient education necessary for a truly informed consent should be considered a surgical virtue.
authors.affiliation: Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Bunch
mesh_terms: D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014481:United States