INFORMED CONSENT IN ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY - A STUDY OF THE VALUE OF WRITTEN WARNINGS

Objective-To determine if written preoperative warnings about risks an d outcomes of surgery improves patients' recall and recognition of the se warnings postoperatively compared to traditional verbal warnings an d to determine if the timing of these warnings is significant. Design- Prospective study of patients given written warnings compared to a con trol group of patients warned in the traditional verbal way. Setting-O ral and Maxillofacial unit of a District General Hospital.