LEGAL AND ETHICAL MYTHS ABOUT INFORMED CONSENT

Informed consent is a foundational concept of medical ethics. Since it s enunciation almost 4 decades ago, it has engendered, and continues t o engender, a great deal of debate and opposition from practicing phys icians. We believe that much of the negative reaction to informed cons ent stems from some fundamental misunderstandings about what informed consent requires. This article discusses and refutes several myths abo ut informed consent that have acquired some currency among physicians.