Informed consent is based on three legal principles: the patient must: one. be competent to give consent, two. give consent freely, three. confer with and agree with family members four. have an adequate understanding of the proposed treatment including potential risks.

Applying ethical principles to medicine-Autonomy influenced by cultural and religious beliefs
-In some cultures, family members have a primary or at least equal, voice about patient's care. Thus, an individual's autonomy is offset by respect for the values of others with whom one has a significant relationship.Ethicsconcerned with the investigation of what is good and what is bad, especially as these concepts relate to moral duties and obligations.Moral principles-The investigation of ethics results in these principles that guide behavior. 
-Essentially what is right and what is wrong.Beneficenceanother fundamental principle in medical care
-involves doing good or conferring benefits that enhance personal or social well-being.Non-maleficenceCounterpart to beneficence
-it is the principle of "do not harm"
--> physicians are not to abandon a patient even when he/she takes actions that he/she believes are ill advisedAutonomyRefers to an individual's rights to be self-governing. Our personal autonomy is limited by the rights of others to exercise their autonomy, and it may also be limited by society. 
ex) In Ghana, travelers are required to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccine before entering the country.Justiceanother principle of medical ethics, which includes qualities of impartiality and fairness as well as right and proper actions. 
-Going beyond one's own feelings and prejudices and desires to find an appropriate balance among conflicting interests.Informed Consentis the duty of physicians to disclose information about treatment to patients and to obtain their consent before procedures.
-Based on 3 legal principles: 
1) The patient must be Competent to give consent
2) Consent must be given Freely
3) Consent must be based on Adequate Understanding of the proposed treatment, including any potential risks.Study: SUPPORT (study to understand prognoses and preferences for outcomes)Study found that fewer than half of the patients reported talking to their doctor about prognosis or CPR (resuscitation)History of Informed Consent-Did not achieve legal definition until 1957
-Its antecedents go back hundreds of years to English Common Law
-By the late 1970's, most physicians stated, in a survey, that they would tell their patients the truth in regards to their diagnosis. However, this was found to be somewhat false in certain complicated or sensitive ethical issues.Preferences regarding informed consentLack of Communication may cause DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders to be ignored even when they exist.

Informed consent can be especially important when medical care is provided by a team of specialists