How can I find out more?
If you need more information about informed consent, you can talk with your local Legal Aid Society, the Cancer Legal Resource Center, or a lawyer. (See the “To learn more” section for contact information.) You can contact your American Cancer Society, too (1-800-227-2345 or www.cancer.org).
National organizations and websites*
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of information include:
Your state or city Bar Association
Check your local phone book or find it online at the American Bar Association website: www.abanet.org/barserv/stlobar.html
Your community’s Legal Aid Society
If your income is limited, look in your phone book or check the online information at the American Bar Association website; click on your state and look for “Free Legal Help” at www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm
Cancer Legal Resource Center
Toll-free number: 1-866-843-2572 (leave a message for call back – it may take 2 to 3 days)
TTY: 213-736-8310
Website: www.cancerlegalresources.org
Offers free, confidential information and resources on cancer-related legal issues, including living wills/durable powers of attorney for health care/advance directives
National Cancer Institute
Toll-free number: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
TTY: 1-800-332-8615
Website: www.cancer.gov
Offers current information about cancer and cancer treatment, living with cancer, clinical trials, and research
American Hospital Association
Website: www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/communicatingpts/pt-care-partnership.shtml
Read their “Patient Care Partnership” brochure online for more on patients’ rights and responsibilities in the hospital. Also available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Russian
*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.
No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
Informed Consent
- What is informed consent and what does it mean?
- Why does the doctor need me to sign a consent form?
- What are the legal requirements of informed consent?
- Who besides the patient is allowed to consent?
- Are there times when the usual consent requirements do not apply?
- How will I be given information for informed consent?
- What questions should I ask during informed consent?
- Can I change my mind after I’ve signed the consent?
- What if I don’t want the treatment that’s being offered?
- How is informed consent for a clinical trial or research study different from consent for standard treatment?
- How is shared decision-making different from informed consent?
- What if I want my doctor to make the decisions about my care, and I don’t want more information?
- How can I find out more?
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and master's-prepared nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Medical Review: May 20, 2016 Last Revised: July 28, 2014
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.