Issues 100-76

Issue 80: Schara, Joachim: Patientenaufklärung vor Krebsschmerztherapie. June 1993

Informing the cancer patient prior to chemotherapeutical treatment is legally and ethically mandatory. Information has to address the risks associated with treatment and alternatives to treatment, also risks of non-compliance within treatment. Information about fatal prognosis is in the pysician's discretion; such information is mandatory, if informed consent for treatment an not be achieved otherwise; the patient may refuse treatment after full disclosure. This is a revised version of a contribution of Joachim Schara in the forthcomming 2nd edition of "Krebsschmerztherapie und Patientenaufklärung", edited by Hankemeier, Bowdler, Zech at Springer Publ. 1993.