The major theme I had taken away was on informed consent and shared decision making. I thought today’s movie was very powerful and emotional. Informed consent should not be a single event or a box that has to be checked off a list. Rather, it is a process that involves a two way conversation between the caregiver and the patient about the procedure, benefits, risks, and alternatives. More importantly, the patient must have a complete understanding which can be enforced by verbal feedback. It was frustrating to see Michael Skolnick’s story unfold as another death could have easily been prevented if the care provider was more mindful of what he was doing and how he was communicating with the patient and family. As physicians and patients engage in shared decision making, it is imperative to never lose sight of patient autonomy and ensuring the patient has all of the information to make an informed decision on their treatment plan.
