Informed Consent, Informed Refusal, Standard of Care: What Do These Terms Really Mean

We all know the terms "informed consent," "informed refusal," "standard of care" but what do these terms really mean to us in our day-to-day practice? Each term is precisely defined in our state dental practice act, civil code, or by the outcomes in a malpractice trial. We ignore these definitions at our own peril. In this presentation we will explore how these terms are applied in our practices and how to take steps to insure that we are always in a safe harbor of compliance.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the legal requirements for effective informed consent.
• Examine the difference between informed consent and informed refusal.
• Comprehend what the standard of care is and how meet that standard.