Informed consent is the legal instrument that purports to protect an individual's autonomy and defends against medical arbitrariness. Informed Consent and Health highlights that possession of complete information about all relevant aspects of a proposed treatment is integral to the ability of a patient to make an informed choice. With patient choice at both legislative and judicial levels rising to greater levels of prominence, this timely book examines how the tensions between the rights of patients to make choices and the duties of doctors to provide health care are managed.

This illuminating book investigates our evolving understanding of informed consent from a range of comparative and international perspectives, demonstrating the diversity of its interpretations around the world. Chapters offer a nuanced analysis of the problems that impede the understanding and implementation of the concept of informed consent and explore the contemporary challenges that continue to hinder both the patient and the medical community.

Containing an in-depth discussion on this fundamental right, this thought-provoking book will be of value to academics and practitioners alike. Providing fascinating insight into new solutions and interpretations, this book will also prove a key resource for clinicians and health care workers.

Contributors include: B. Buchner, S.C. Chima, I. Freckelton, R. Fretwell Wilson, N. Glover-Thomas, M. Hartlev, Y. Joly, V.G. Mammadov, G. Marrocco, Y.V. Pavlova, M. Pinkesz, S.I. Pospelova, V.L. Raposo, Y.D. Sergeyev, T. Vansweevelt, M.H. Zawati

About the Author
Edited by Thierry Vansweevelt, Professor of Medical Law, University of Antwerp, Belgium and Nicola Glover-Thomas, Professor of Medical Law, University of Manchester, UK

Reviews
'Vansweevelt and Glover-Thomas have succeeded in providing a comprehensive picture of the principle of informed consent. This volume shows that despite many different levels of detail, and different interpretations, most countries have rooted the principle of informed consent within their national legislation.'
--Andre den Exter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands

'Consent to health care and treatment is a cornerstone of ethical medical practice and any exceptions must be carefully justified. But what exactly is informed consent? This timely book will be of invaluable assistance to practitioners, students and researchers from a range of disciplines, who are interested in understanding what the doctrine of informed consent means across countries with diverse legal systems. This book provides a useful, comparative overview of the scope, interpretation and practical application of informed consent with a view to informing the development of this important doctrine.'
--Bernadette McSherry, University of Melbourne, Australia

Book Information
ISBN 9781788973410
Author Thierry Vansweevelt
Format Hardback
Page Count 296
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd