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New York Medical Malpractice

2/29/2008
Peter Panas
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Informed consent is going digital

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal about those informed consent documents you sign before you have a medical procedure discusses new technology being used to improve the consent process. You know that something needs to be done when studies have revealed that 60 to 70% of patients either don’t read or don’t understand their informed consent forms.

As informed consent documents are a patient’s best way to find out exactly what will be done to them during their medical procedure, it is very important that they understand what they’re agreeing to. Not only should the procedure itself be detailed, but possible adverse reactions, alternative treatments, potential risks from the procedure, and risks if the procedure is not performed should also be included.

Some hospitals are starting to embrace technology in order to improve their informed consent process. The most popular software on the market today is the iMedConsent software package, which presents all the consent information to the patient on a computer screen and captures their signature electronically. Hospitals are hoping that these electronic forms will improve patient understanding, and if patient understanding is improved then we bet they’re hoping the number of medical malpractice lawsuits they see will shrink.

If you’ve signed an informed consent document in the past, did you understand it? Do you think that standardized, electronic informed consent forms will help? Are you worried about your signature being captured and stored electronically? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

You can read more in our library article, “Do You Really Understand that Informed Consent Document You Signed?”

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