Published on the Dec. 8, 2015, DiagnosticImaging.com website
By Whitney L.J. Howell
CHICAGO — One of the most important issues facing radiology – both diagnostic and interventional – is informed patient consent, Stuart G. Silverman, MD, Harvard Medical School professor of radiology and director of abdominal imaging and intervention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said at RSNA 2015.
Along with colleagues, Silverman published a study in the Journal of Vascular Interventional Radiology November issue that discussed how vital informed patients are.
“Informed consent requires patient involvement, and this will happen even more so in the future,” he said. “Patients must understand their condition and the procedure, and they must also understand the benefits and risks presented by any proposed procedure.”
And securing proper informed consent means covering three key aspects. The interaction must be patient-centered, legally-sound, and quality-driven.
Patient-centered
Before presenting a patient with a written consent form and asking for a signature, take the time to get to know him or her. Learn what a patient believes about a procedure and what the desired outcome is. Explain the procedure fully, but be prepared to close the conversation without a consent signature.
“Consent is a collaborative goal, and a patient must know you’re working together to meet his or her wants,” Silverman said.
To read the remainder of the article at its original location: http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/rsna-2015/radiologists-guide-informed-patient-consent
