[Current patient education problems for the physician].

Abstract

Every medical treatment which involves risk to the patient requires the informed consent of the patient. Taking into account the fundamental right of the patient to remain physically unscathed and the right of self-determination, proper information must be given to the patient regarding typical risks. This is a prerequisite to patient consent. In this regard, the law makes strong demands. Even in cases where medical treatment is unsuccessful due to complications beyond the physician's control, the physician is still held liable (even if there was no fault found in his medical treatment) if he had not properly informed his patient of the risk involved in the procedure or he cannot prove that he had informed the patient. The following paper explains the legal demands of the duty to inform patients along with examples of precedents.