Summary
A key part of the individual patient rights is the renunciation of explicit information
on a planned surgical procedure. However, jurisdiction has assigned strict requirements
for the validity of such a denial. To ensure legal validity of the denial, the surgeon
has to obtain informed consent signed by the patient stating that the patient rejected
detailed medical information, but did understand the nature of the planned procedure.
The initiative to receive just limited medical information must be taken by the patient
himself, not the surgeon. Thus, the patient may choose to receive either detailed
or limited information on the surgical procedure. Important to know: A limited time
schedule of the surgeon is not a valid justification for a limited informed consent.
