Does MRI require informed consent?

Question

I'm confused about which tests require informed consent and which do not.

Answer 1

Any medical procedure/test requires the patient/or guardian/power of attorney's consent (depending on the circumstances). You always have the right to refuse any treatment or test of any kind. The exception to this is if you are deemed a danger to yourself and/or others and are 'put on a form' which will keep you in hospital for 48 hours of observation. One other exception occurs if you are incapacitated (unconscious, comatose) and there is no family available to make decisions for you, if this is the case, hospital/doctors will act in what they feel is your best interest. Each hospital has an ethics board which helps with these complicated circumstances and who often make the final call on difficult decision (to pull the plug or not to...)when the patient has no living will or family members.

Simple answer to your question is yes, but remember that consent is often assumed and not stated. For example you go to the lab to have blood drawn, they do not ask for your consent to draw blood, it is assumed that you are giving consent by bringing yourself to the lab, waiting your turn and sitting in the chair. MRI and more invasive tests have more risks and the patient needs to be aware of these so the docs will go through the benefits and risks prior to the test (if it is not an emergency).