What might be the consequences of not obtaining informed consent?

Not obtaining informed consent can lead to legal actions against the healthcare provider because informed consent is a fundamental ethical and legal requirement in medical practice. When patients are adequately informed about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure or treatment, they can make educated decisions regarding their own healthcare. Failure to obtain this consent may be viewed as a breach of the patient's rights, which can result in claims of negligence or malpractice.

The legal ramifications include potential civil suits, where patients may claim that they were not properly informed and thus did not agree to the procedure, leading to harm or complications that could have been avoided. Additionally, without documented informed consent, providers can face challenges in defending their practices in legal settings. This underscores the importance of the informed consent process in promoting trust between patients and healthcare providers while safeguarding legal compliance for the latter.