Elderly Patients and Informed Consent

Elderly patients may not always have the capacity to make informed consent—and if recurring treatment is required, there are special issues. A patient’s absolute right to make informed decisions regarding his or her medical care is the foundation of informed consent. The American Medical Association states, “Physicians should sensitively and respectfully disclose all relevant medical information to patients. The quantity and specificity of this information should be tailored to meet the preferences and needs of individual patients.”