Informed Consent and Medicolegal Aspects

Informed Consent and Medicolegal Aspects
Book Chapter
Bernardo Hontanilla, Andrés Ros Magallón
Post-maternity Body Changes, 20 October 2023 [Springer]
Abstract
    It is not seldom in our trade that one must face litigation, be it against oneself or when testifying for or against something a colleague has done in their practice. Having a working knowledge of the regulations that permeate the doctor-patient relationship is paramount to building a successful practice and reducing the risks associated with patient care.

This is especially relevant in the field of aesthetic surgery, where a patient is not seeking a treatment that is essentially curative, but one to look like a younger version of themselves or improve their appearance. Often due to the aggressive marketing performed by some surgeons or reality TV, such a patient can present with unrealistic expectations or without even knowing the risks surgery entails, which becomes even more harmful when a third party can be affected by the results of the surgery as it is the case when treating a post-maternity patient.

The aims of this chapter are to provide a basic knowledge of the different kinds of regulations that specifically affect our trade, to bring forward the possible pitfalls when treating a post-maternity patient, and to emphasize the importance of the informed consent both to reduce risk and to improve the doctor-patient relationship.