BoardsBridgeInformed Consent for High-Risk Surgery
Material-risk disclosure, reasonable-person standard, emergency exception, and documentation
For high-risk surgery, informed consent means a documented conversation that discloses material risks a reasonable person would want to know (death, MI, stroke, paralysis), alternatives including no surgery, the surgeon's relevant experience, and the patient's voluntary competent agreement.
If you forget
Material risks a reasonable person would want to know — not just what you feel comfortable saying
Board trap
Key numbers
- Material risk threshold commonly cited: >1% serious complication OR any risk of death or permanent disability
- ASA informed consent elements: risks, benefits, alternatives, and assessment of patient understanding
- Documentation minimum: procedure, indication, risks discussed, alternatives discussed, patient questions, signature with date/time and witness
- Pediatric assent: typically sought at age ≥7 years when developmentally appropriate
- Emergency exception: immediate threat to life or limb + patient lacks decision-making capacity + no surrogate reachable in the time available
Uri Rozen, MD — Licensed Physician, Israel
Source guidelines: ASA Informed Consent 2022 · ACS Surgical Consent 2021 · ASA DNR Ethics 2023
Re-review cadence: 12 months from reviewed date.
Related on BoardsBridge
Card ID: high-risk-surgery · Path: aba.ethics.informed-consent.high-risk-surgery