What should be included in an informed consent discussion for a non-emergency procedure?

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Informed consent for a non-emergency procedure means giving the patient a complete explanation of what will happen, including the risks and benefits, plus the available alternatives (including doing nothing) and the opportunity to ask questions, and then documenting the patient’s decision. This ensures the patient can understand why the procedure is recommended, what could go wrong, and what other options exist, so they can choose freely. Simply presenting only the benefits or only the risks omits important information, and consent should not be assumed or implicit in non-emergency settings. Proper documentation confirms that the discussion occurred, the patient understood the information, and consent was given.