[20120113. Complications of EMR/ESD (8): Informed consent (4)]
American Cancer Society에서 Informed consent에 대하여 설명하고 있는 부분을 살펴보기 바란다 (link, PDF). 물론 clinical trial을 염두에 두고 만들어진 설명서지만 일반 항암치료에도 적용가능하다.
방대한 자료도 놀랍지만 "What questions should I ask during informed consent?" 아래에 긴 설명을 붙여놓은 것은 무척 인상적이다 (link). 만약 우리나라 환자가 이렇게 많은 것을 물어온다면 우리는 거의 치료를 중단해야 할지 모른다. 여하튼 옮겨본다.
[What questions should I ask during informed consent?]
You will, of course, have your own questions, especially once the doctor starts sharing information. But some basic questions you might ask include:
- What is my diagnosis (the medical name for the illness I have) and what does that mean?
- How serious is my diagnosis?
- What treatments are recommended?
- Are there other treatment options? What are they?
- What benefits would you expect from the recommended treatments and other options?
- What are the risks or complications of the recommended treatment and the other treatment options?
- Are there problems or side effects that may be caused by the treatments?
- What methods will be used to prevent or relieve these problems or side effects?
- What are the side effects of the treatment -- immediate, short-term, and long-term?
- How will having treatment affect my normal functions and everyday activities?
- How would not having treatment affect my normal functions and everyday activities?
- How long will treatment last?
- How long will it be before I can go back to my normal activities?
- How much does the treatment cost?
- Will my insurance cover it?
It's a good idea to write down your questions and bring the list to your appointments, take notes on the responses, or bring a tape recorder to record the discussion. (You will want to check with the doctor before you record him or her.) Good health providers usually appreciate a patient's efforts to understand the challenges they face and to make informed decisions.
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