Legal contentions in thyroid surgery. Kind of preoperative information to the patients

Abstract

The question of patient’s information and the achievement of an informed consent to medical and/or surgical treatment by the patient still represents one of the main issue of the medical profession, having greater importance nowadays in respect to the past regarding the relationship doctor-patient and to the diagnostic-therapeutic approach to the patient.

Written informed consent is a pre requisite for surgical intervention as it provides the forum for the patient to appreciate implications of the procedure and the doctor to explain details and effects of the surgery.

Patient’s refusal is, nowadays, according to the latest orientation of the Italian Supreme Court, the major limitation to medical or surgical intervention. For these reason we have thought better to propose a written form of informed consent regarding the thyroid surgery, which implies, more than other surgery’s act, the exposition of the patient to adverse iatrogenic risks and as a consequence it can expose the surgeon to criminal or civil liabilities.