Patient Rights

The major objective of informed consent is to give the patient an opportunity play a role in his health care decision. The law requires physicians to get an informed consent of their patients before any medical procedure. The patient has a right to be informed and to be made aware of the nature of the procedure, available alternatives to the medical operation, the risks, benefits and uncertainties related to the operation as well as the patient's acceptance of the operation.

For a patient's consent to be valid, he must be considered competent to voluntarily make the decision (Edwards, 1998). However, there are conditions that may render a patient incompetent to make treatment decisions. In the case of Mr. Jones who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the law provides for an option. According to section 5 article a of the National Conference of Commissioners;

"A surrogate may make...
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