Informed Consent Is A Central Part Of Medical Ethics

Without informed consent a person’s autonomy is taken away. Informed consent upholds the right that a person has to makes his/her own decisions concerning their health. We all can agree that doing something to someone without their consent is wrong no matter if it is health related or not. Informed consent gives a patient the ability to make a decision about his/her health give the benefits and the consequences with and without proper care. On the basis or having a patient who’s culture, ethnicity, or religion, does not permit them knowing about a particular action concerning their health, it is still the duty of the physician to uphold a patients American rights and the right to autonomy. If someone does not want to know about their condition then why seek care. In the end, something has to give. If that means informing a patient that does not want to be informed then so be it. There are many different cultures and nationalities in the United States, but that does not change rights and laws already in place in the United States. In the United States informed consent is a central part of medical ethics. Should we change our ethics according to the medical ethic in other countries and cultures? (Uhhh no!) That would be compromising our culture and ethics. Just because someone is from a different culture that does not change the rules of a Hospital or laws set in place. If I was getting an operation done in a foreign country, I would expect the procedure to be under the policy and rules of the governing country and not that of the country I am from. Informed consent is a vital part of medical ethics to protect the rights of the patient as well the physician. There are people out there who do indeed deny consent, but they are a small portion and are not a majority. So, we should take away everyone’s right of autonomy to please a few? I don’t think so. There is no law that is going to please everyone, but there are rights and laws that are for the better of everyone and operate in the best interest of the society as a whole. Sacrifice the ethics of a few to uphold the ethics of many….