A Modern Epidemic Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects an estimated 320 million individuals worldwide (16 million in the U.S. alone), and the incidence of this condition has increased substantially in the last decade. Further challenging psychiatrists, current pharmacologic therapies (MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and SSRIs) are limited by therapeutic lag times of up to weeks or months, and high refractory rates of approximately 30%. Patients with treatment-resistant depression face limited options, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (r-TMS) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and patients with suicidal ideation may remain at risk while they wait for a newly-prescribed antidepressant to take effect....
This supplement to our "Informed Consent Revisited" article contains excerpts from California laws related to informed consent, consent by minors and special consents. California physicians who have questions about a specific patient or who require legal advice may call MIEC’s Claims Department in Oakland at 800-227-4527. For general liability questions, physicians and their staff can call MIEC’s Patient Safety & Risk Management Department in Oakland, CA at 800-227-4527. Informed Consent In California, the current law on informed consent is derived largely from the case of Cobbs vs. Grant (1972) 8 Cal.3d 229 in which it was ruled that a physician...
This supplement to our "Informed Consent Revisited" article contains excerpts from Alaska laws related to informed consent, consent by minors and special consents. Alaska physicians who have questions about a specific patient or who require legal advice may call MIEC’s Claims Office in Anchorage, AK at 907-868-2500. For general liability questions, physicians and their staff can call MIEC’s Patient Safety & Risk Management (PSRM) Office in Anchorage, AK at 907-252-4015 or the PSRM Department in Oakland, CA at 800-227-4527. Informed Consent In Alaska, the law on informed consent is derived largely from common law and statutes. Court decisions modify and...
This supplement to our "Informed Consent Revisited" article contains excerpts from Idaho laws related to informed consent, consent by minors and special consents. Idaho physicians who have questions about a specific patient or who require legal advice may call MIEC’s Claims Office in Boise at 208-344-6378. For general liability questions, physicians and their staff can contact MIEC’s Patient Safety & Risk Management (PSRM) Specialist in Boise at 208-807-2603 or the PSRM Department in Oakland, CA at 800-227-4527. Informed Consent Idaho law provides that consent, or refusal to consent, for the furnishing of health care, treatment or procedures “shall be valid...
Informed Consent Revisited: What is Expected of Providers
Informed consent has generated many articles, legal opinions and court decisions, yet it is still a misunderstood topic. Failure to obtain informed consent is a common allegation in medical malpractice cases involving surgery, invasive diagnostic studies and even medications. In some cases, defendants are absolved of negligence, but are held liable for not adequately disclosing the material risks of treatment which prevented the patient from giving an informed consent. Many physicians think informed consent is something they give to patients (“I consented the patient.”). In fact, doctors provide information, but obtain consent from their patients by having a full discussion...