Should the chiropractic profession embrace the doctrine of informed consent?

Received 3 November 2007; received in revised form 4 April 2008; accepted 10 April 2008.

Abstract

This commentary provides a narrative review of the literature focusing on the use of a health care informed consent process in the United States. This article reviews the current positions of the World Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Chiropractic Association, Wisconsin and New Jersey State Courts, US Federal Government Office of Health Policy and Clinical Outcomes, and 1 college of chiropractic regarding the doctrine of informed consent. The authors recommend that the chiropractic profession embrace the doctrine of informed consent and promulgate it as a standard of care. The implementation of this doctrine by chiropractic physicians promotes and improves the safety of chiropractic interventions.

Key indexing terms: Chiropractic, Delivery of health care, Informed consent, Human rights, Patient rights, Patient Self-Determination Act, Jurisprudence

a Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic, Bridgeport, CT 06604

b Private practice, Denver, CO 80210

c Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic, Bridgeport, CT 06604

Corresponding author. 65 Myrtle Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604, USA. Tel.: +1 505 238 9501 (cell); fax: +1 203 576 4351.

PII: S1556-3707(08)00077-1

doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2008.04.002

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