BIOETHICS FOR CLINICIAN .1. CONSENT

Patients are entitled to make decisions about their medical care and t o be given relevant information on which to base such decisions. The p hysician's obligation to obtain the patients consent to treatment is g rounded in the ethical principles of patient autonomy and respect for persons and affirmed by Canadian law and professional policy. A large body of research supports the view that the process of obtaining conse nt can improve patient satisfaction and compliance and ultimately, hea lth outcomes. An exception to the requirement to obtain consent is the emergency treatment of incapable persons, provided there is no reason to believe that the treatment would be contrary to the person's wishe s if he or she were capable.