title: Informed consent.
abstract: Informed consent is an essential component of the practice of perinatal medicine because, as a process of communication and decision making, it should shape the relationship between the physician and pregnant woman and between the physician and the parents of a newborn child. This article provides an account of the physician's obligations in the informed consent process in terms of ethics and law.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mccullou@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Laurence B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Chervenak
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D033282:Parental Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010819:Physician's Role; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence