Informed consent

V diplomskem delu je obravnavana pravica pacienta do samostojnega odločanja o zdravljenju, ki je neločljivo povezana z njegovo pravico do obveščenosti in sodelovanja. V preteklosti je bil odnos med zdravnikom in pacientom vse prej kot partnerski – pacient je bil le objekt zdravljenja, ki je bilo popolnoma v rokah in pod nadzorom zdravnika. Prevladovalo je načelo »salus aergoti suprema lex«. Z razmahom človekovih pravic v času francoske revolucije so svoj razmah doživele tudi pacientove pravice in odnos med zdravnikom in pacientom se je počasi, ampak vztrajno začel spreminjati. Danes prevladuje načelo »voluntas aegroti suprema lex« in pacient ima vlogo zdravnikovega partnerja, ki sam odloča o posegih v svoje telo. Predpogoj, da lahko pacient poda informirano privolitev v zdravljenje ali medicinski poseg, je, da je seznanjen z naravo svoje bolezni, s tveganji, ki jih zdravljenje ali medicinski poseg nosi s sabo, in s potekom postopka morebitnega zdravljenja ali medicinskega posega. Nujno je, da pacient vse dobljene informacije razume, če pa jih zaradi okoliščin, ki so povezane z njegovo starostjo, duševnim stanjem ali trenutnim telesnim stanjem, ne more razumeti, mu je potrebno zagotoviti primernega zastopnika ali skrbnika. Samo na tak način lahko govorimo o veljavni, informirani privolitvi v zdravljenje (ang. informed consent).The thesis focuses on a patient\u27s right to independently decide about his or her health, which is intristically linked to one’s right to be informed and involved. In the past the relationship between the doctor and the patient was not one of equals – the patient was merely an object of treatment which was completely in the hands of the doctor and under their control. The prevailing principle was »salus aergoti suprema lex«. With the development of human rights in the time of the French Revolution, patient rights began to flourish as well and the relationship between doctor and patient started to slowly yet persistently change. Today the main principle is »voluntas aegroti suprema lex« and the patient is the doctor\u27s partner with their own decisions regarding medical procedures. The precondition for a patient’s informed consent is the knowledge regading the nature of his or her illness, the risks connected with its treatment or its related medical procedure and the course of the treatment or procedure. It is necessary for the patient to understand all of the given information. In case they cannot understand it due to their age, mental condition or temporary physical condition, they must be provided with a proper guardian or representative. Only then can we talk about the patient’s informed consent