Informed Consent as A Patient's Legal Protection for High Risk Anesthesia

Informed consent to anesthesia has traditionally been considered "implied" after the patient has consented to surgery, with surgical consent stating that anesthesia will be required for surgery and there are risks associated with anesthesia. The problem is often that informed consent, especially in writing, is carried out by a surgeon, when the patient has not met the anesthesiologist. The risk of anesthesia is not always directly proportional to the risk of surgery. High-risk anesthesia depends on the patient's general condition related to disorders of vital organs. This could cause problem if medical or anesthesia accidents happen. Because of this, anesthesiologists should have a role in providing all information to patients regarding their health status and anesthetic risks. Patients are clinical consumers who receive health services there is a need of legal protection, especially regarding patient rights after that patient can accept or refuse all the medical service especially in high-risk anesthesia. Therefore, written informed consent should be the main option by the anesthesiologist is a must after the patient has given consent to undergo high-risk anesthesia after the given information about the action plan that will be carried out and the possible risks of anesthesia that may occur.