Page 6 - Desert Oracle March 2021

Informed Consent

You as a VA patient have the right to make an informed decision about your health care; this

includes both medical and mental health care. If you are beginning a new treatment or
procedure, your VA provider will give you information about the treatment or procedure,

answer any questions you may have, and ask you if you want to go ahead with the treatment
or procedure. All patients have the right to say yes or no. If you say “yes”, you are giving

informed consent. A “no” answer, will not affect future treatment or other VA benefits.

In a medical emergency, when there is no time to have an informed consent discussion, your

provider will give you necessary medical care to save your life or prevent a catastrophic
disability. You will be asked to give informed consent whenever your provider recommends a

new treatment or procedure.

The informed consent discussion is to ensure that patients are aware of the risks, benefits and
alternatives of a recommended treatment or procedure before they decide whether to have it.
The discussion may include:

• Description of treatment and procedure

• What is likely to happen to you if you don’t have the procedure
• Benefits and risks

• Other options besides recommended procedure
• Who is responsible for treatment/procedure

• Make sure you understand the information

The discussion can occur in person, by telephone or via videoconference, and can be
conducted by the practitioner or delegated to trained team members.

Informed consent must be documented, prior to any treatment or procedures. The
physician/practitioner must obtain the informed consent and must document the informed

consent process in the VA patient’s electronic health record. The patient’s signature must also
be obtained for treatment.

The “gurney consent” is prohibited. This refers to an occurrence when a patient might be on a
gurney and in a compromised position, such as being sedated, and is forced to make an
informed decision in regards to his/her health care.

Michael Wilson, Senior National Service Officer