Abstract

Informed consent is a fundamental principle of anaesthesia care and is a medicolegal requirement. Recent guidance from the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland relating to the conduct of informed consent for anaesthesia include a number of recommended risks that anaesthetists should discuss when obtaining informed consent. Although the consent process is generally considered benign, recent research on the nocebo effect suggests that some elements of the risk discussion may potentially harm patients by increasing anxiety or increase the likelihood of an adverse perceptual experience such as nausea or pain.

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