THE INFORMED CONSENT IN CARDIOLOGY

In the last thirty years, the clinical relationship between physicians and patients has been rather modified. There are several factors that have contributed to this change: a) New ways to execute medical pract ises, specially referred to the development of new techniques; b) Cult ural changes in our western society, mainly in the mediterranean area, where there has been progress In the recognition of patients' autonom y to decide about their own lives, health and their own bodies; c) The increasing number of lawsuits, complaints and judgements about the pr oblems that clinical information involves, particulary the informed co nsent in clinical practise. We consider it necessary to make an extens ive and deep discussion from all of the areas in Medicine and Law, to analyze the different ethical and legal parts of the informed consent. For that reason the Spanish Society of Cardiology offers their member s a basic document in order to reflect about these facts, developing a rguments, justifications and supports. This document has also consider ed models, conditions to their applicability according to Spanish law, and the experience we have had. Finally, there is a list of diagnosti c procedures and interventional practises in cardiology that myght be preceded by a written informed consent document. We considered them by the name of Spanish Society of Cardiology recommendations.