A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PATIENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE INFORMED CONSENT DOCTRINE: ETHICAL AND LEGAL REFLECTIONS

Informed consent is an ethical and legal doctrine of patients’ right acquiescence to treatment the disclosure adequate information by physician facilitate medical decisions. The seeks expand scope potential liabilities practitioners promote rights care. A breach informed could be actionable in battery or assault when there bodily trespass without tort clinical negligence are inadequate disclosures. This article a desk-top systematic review primary data from seven independent empirical studies on perspective patient five common law African countries. publications which were purposively searched extracted Google Scholar reveal that though majority patients (at least 79 percent) granted for treatment, was insufficient material complications risks, alternatives refuse if they so wished. Disclosures risks as low 21.2 percent patients. physician’s competence providing disclosure, demands continual training practice doctrine. application communication strategies enhance capacity understand process recommended. Additionally, clear guidelines relevant regulatory bodies recommended protect liabilities.