Editor’s Note: For 16 years, I've published weekly essays here on Blogspot, which will continue. I’ve now begun publishing my work on a new blogging platform, Substack, and I hope you’ll join me there. Please enter your email address at this link to receive my posts directly to your inbox. The doctrine of informed consent is a bedrock medical ethical principle. Physicians’ obligation is to present the patient with reasonable diagnostic or therapeutic options with the respective risks and benefits. Decision-making authority resides with the patient. While this process sounds straightforward, it can be a bewildering process for patients and their families. For starters, physicians – trained medical professionals and members of the imperfect human species – have opinions on which medical options they favor. These opinions may be on the basis of known medical evidence or their professional experience. C ertain options may not be locally availabl...
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.