Informed Consent

A patient is entitled to provide or refuse consent to treatment. This is regarded as patient autonomy or self determination in South African medical law.

• It is imperative that the correct and accurate diagnosis being provided by the treating doctor to the patient;

• Alternative methods of treatment should be discussed with the patient;

• The effects of treatment should be discussed with the patient;

• The patient should have knowledge and appreciation as to provide informed consent.

A patient should be informed and advised of inherent risks involved with the proposed treatment:

• According to the Castell v de Greef 1994 (4) SA 408 (C) decision a doctor is obliged to warn a patient of relevant and inherent risks of any proposed treatment and or surgery. "A risk is material if, in the circumstances of the particular case, a reasonable person in the patient's position, if warned of the risk, would be likely to attach significance to it or if the medical practitioner is or should reasonably be aware that the particular patient, if warned of the risk, would be likely to attach significance to it".