informed consent

Lawmakers want to require informed patient consent for some medical procedures. A bill moving through the legislature would bring Indiana in line with federal recommendations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released guidance requiring informed consent for pelvic, breast, prostate or rectal exams under anesthesia. Because Medicare funding can be tied to compliance, most hospitals are likely to follow it. However, one lawmaker is still pushing to add the informed consent requirements to state law.