Relevance of information in informed consent to digestive endoscopy.
In the field of instrumental methodologies, digestive endoscopy is widely applied diagnostic and therapeutic investigation, involving ethical and medico-legal problems connected with its performance. So, in the light of the present doctor-patient relationship, we therefore wished to reconsider the relevant meaning of preventive information which is indispensable for obtaining the patient's consent to the doctor's action. The aim of this present paper is to provide adequate knowledge, for who ever is about to undergo endoscopic examination, by introducing new informative forms and a new system for their distribution, without negatively affecting the patient's state of anxiety. We have tried to attribute greater responsibility to the person of the doctor requesting the examination, in providing information for the patient, and to underline, in the case of complications, the important conduct of the endoscopic specialist, who must not fail to obtain new informed consent before submitting the patient to any action directed towards treatment of the specific complication. If ignored, these medico-legal aspects can formulate the responsibility of the doctor both in clinical or penal context.
Stroppa
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Department of Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. columbus-patchi@linet.it