Patient's autonomy and informed consent

The present paper it is a literature review dealing with the concepts of patient's autonomy and informed consent focussing on how these concepts interrelate with themselves and on how health professionals should handle these concepts. Recipients of health care have specific rights with regard to its delivery. Within this context the providers of health care, should also be knowledgeable of and they have to respect those rights. At the basis of the patients' rights are autonomy and informed consent. Patient autonomy is described as a fundamental ethical principle in health care. It is the right of the patient to determine his/her own health issues. Patients have the right to be involved in the decisionmaking process regarding their health care and health professionals should always try to ensure that people are not treated against their will. Informed consent is a voluntary un-coerced decision made by a competent autonomous individual to accept or reject some proposed course of action. Patients have the right to be informed about their treatment and care and give consent to the health care provider before any treatment regime can begin.