Table of ContentsSummaryIntroductionHistory of Informed ConsentPrinciples of Informed ConsentGuidelines for the Practice of Informed ConsentPublic Health ImplicationsConclusionReferencesSummaryInformed consent is a doctrine that has developed and evolved over the past two centuries to become a solid health practice. Informed consent has a vast history dating back to ancient Greece, but it is an extremely important topic in public health today. It has long been believed that patients should leave all decisions to doctors and surgeons. This has resulted in a lot of harm and undue stress on the subjects over the years. From these cases of malpractice and negligence (which were once common practice), this new doctrine was born, adopted, and spread throughout the healthcare community. There are three guiding principles: respect for autonomy, justice and beneficence. Whether it is a doctor treating a patient in a hospital or a medical researcher conducting HIV prevention research, informed consent should always be part of the methods and procedures. It has now become a priority for some researchers and public health practitioners to ensure not only that information is disseminated before major action is taken, but also that the information is digested and fully understood by the subject before administering the treatment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayIntroductionInformed consent is a fundamental principle of public health, law, social and behavioral sciences, and even philosophy (Medline More, 2017). The history and evolution of informed consent is vast and potentially life-changing, but it is an absolutely necessary and important aspect of the public health and medical community. Informed consent is loosely defined as transparent communication between a practitioner and a patient regarding the possible consequences of treatment to the fullest and safest extent possible (CDC, 2019). Breaking it down even further, consent is permission for something to happen or happen. The principle of informed consent is based on successful communication between practitioners and patients. There are strict guidelines that outline appropriate actions to obtain informed consent, as well as principles that help define its importance. This article will look at the history of the topic, while outlining the principles and guidelines mentioned to truly grasp the seriousness of informed consent as a public health concept. History of Informed ConsentFor thousands of years, dating back to ancient Greece, informed consent was unrelated to health care (Murray, n.d.). It was often considered undesirable or unimportant for patients to participate in the decision-making process regarding medical treatment (Clayton, Lorenz, Wolf, 2018). It was understood that although doctors had to inspire confidence in the patient in the procedure that was to be undergone, it was not necessary to disclose the possible results, negative or positive, of the procedure, because the unknown could lead to distrust of the patient. the doctor by the patient. Until the Age of Enlightenment, a certain air of deception was present in the health care process (Murray, n.d.). The concept of informed consent didn't really take hold until the 20th century. It was a time of contentious legislation and arguments, whichled to the basis of informed consent that we know today. In the case of Luka v. Lowrie in 1912, a young boy had his leg amputated urgently, after the surgeon consulted other doctors. , but did not consult the parents about this before carrying out the procedure. The court ruled in favor of the doctors, but this case marked the first informed consent case brought to court. The case that has probably had the greatest impact on the doctrine of informed consent is Schoendorff v. Society of New York Hospital. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo held that every human being has the right to decide what to do with or on his or her own body. He believes that any surgeon who operates with his consent should be held responsible for damages. These contentious battles continued throughout the 20th century, leading to the expansion and potential acceptance of informed consent as a doctrine of health and medicine (Murray, n.d.). At first, the greatest resistance came from doctors, but with support from the public and the Supreme Court, informed consent became standard practice. Over the years, there have been many cases where informed consent was either ignored entirely or not practiced outright. The infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment was a prime example of the lack of informed consent in health and medical procedures. The US Civil Service conducted, what is now considered a grossly unethical study, which lasted 40 years starting in 1932. It intended to observe untreated syphilis, but the participants did not were not informed of their true intention and many people died as a result. This is one of many unethical studies in which informed consent was compromised. Research studies, like other medical treatments and operations, now require informed consent. Actions like those that occurred at Tuskegee during this 40-year period are frowned upon by the research and health community today. Principles of Informed Consent In the area of ​​informed consent, there are three main guiding principles. Respect for autonomy is the first and probably the best known principle. In the Western world, personal liberty and freedom are so emphasized and demanded, that respect for autonomy is often the principle that sparks much debate when the rules of informed consent appear to be broken (Burr and Gibson, 2017 ). The freedom to choose and make one's own choices is a very highly respected essential human right in the United States. There is a great deal of importance between simply being autonomous and being respected within your autonomy. Beneficence is considered to promote a person's well-being (Burr & Gibson, 2017). This can be defined as the value of benefiting the person and ultimately causing them no harm if possible. This may be considered healing, elimination, or prevention of pain by a medical professional, if possible. The results and risks of procedures must always be weighed against the benefits to the subjects involved as well as to the public interest in general. Justice is the last of the three principles. This principle is based on social cooperation. Justice requires that people be treated with what is just, due, or owed (Burr and Gibson, 2017). There should be no denial of necessary services if the person owes them, and it also works the other way where no services should be provided unless they are required or deemed necessary. THEThe main relevant argument in favor of informed consent is that it would be considered unfair for a doctor to deny life-saving treatment and information to a patient who needs it. Guidelines for Practicing Informed Consent The American Medical Association has set strict guidelines that must be followed to obtain informed consent. be carried out efficiently and correctly. The subject should be evaluated for their ability to understand medical jargon and the implications of treatment options so that they can make their own voluntary decision. Information must be presented to the subject accurately and sensitively. The physician should always be sure to include the most current information about the diagnoses, purpose, and potential outcomes of possible interventions, and this should always include the health burden involved in these different intervention options (American Medical Association, 2019). For legal reasons, informed consent must be documented. This includes the conversation between the practitioner and the subject but should ultimately conclude with specific written informed consent from the patient prior to any medical or health intervention. Public Health Implications The issue of informed consent is still as important and relevant today as it was in the past when it was accepted and expected. The principle of informed consent is extremely relevant in the field of public health in particular. The spread of HIV has brought informed consent to the forefront of public health policy design. Informed consent attempts to ensure that subjects have free choice regarding health matters and also that healthcare professionals act responsibly within the scope of their licenses (Goldman, Hunt, Kole, 2018). The quality of patient understanding is an issue that public health professionals are beginning to address to better improve the practice of informed consent. A study was recently carried out in Africa to test the effectiveness of informed consent counseling offered to subjects at high risk of contracting HIV. They found that understanding of the problem was not greatly improved through counseling and that many subjects no longer knew much about the disease that afflicted them and so many others in their community. This led to the conclusion that much of what was done in terms of treatment and prevention was actually done without informed and voluntary consent. While researchers and practitioners offered information and education to understand the condition, the public did not understand the concept or the seriousness of the problem, and many women felt they were pressured to undergo the procedure. test. Thus, any decisions made regarding their HIV health could not have complied with informed consent guidelines. Conclusion This is just one of many examples of how the public health community is focusing on informed consent. From there, they can develop and target new ways to disseminate information about HIV. Perhaps there is a language barrier that disrupts medical jargon, or perhaps it is more of a cultural issue that prevents consent from being truly informed and voluntary. Informed consent, while extremely necessary, is not yet a perfect science. Much work remains to be done to ensure that all physicians, practitioners, and researchers provide accurate, quality information, and also that all subjects and patients actually absorb this information.. 2.