Medico-legal Aspects of Informed Consent

"The health of my patient will be my first consideration." These words of Declaration of Geneva of the World Medical Association bind the physicians towards their duty to promote and safeguard the health of the people. With more awareness among consumers with respect to their rights, the medical fraternity has to be more vigilant while dealing with patient care. Respecting the well being of the patient in clinical practice and medical research is the need of the hour. World-over, it is now a widely accepted trend that the clinician should negotiate rather than dictate what is in the best interest of patients. Implied consent (Tacit Consent) is the most common form of agreement between doctor and patient for general examination but informed consent is must before any major diagnostic/therapeutic intervention. This article reviews the components of informed consent and its medico-legal significance in Indian scenario.