INFORMED CONSENT AS A REFLECTION OF PHYSICIAN’S ACCOUNTABILITY

Abstract

Accountability has various interpretations. In general, accountability linked with the relationship between two or more parties, where one party provides the mandate while the other party carries out the mandate and is accountable for it. The substance of the accountability can be in the form of financial and non-financial aspects. In the world of accounting, accountability focuses on financial aspects. This is different from that in the world of health, in particular what doctors do. This research serves to explore the accountability of doctors. This research is a qualitative descriptive study using Husserl's transcendental phenomenology approach and is in the realm of the interpretive paradigm. Data were collected trough in-depth interview and observation. This study found that doctor’s accountability reflected in informed consent, which is consent given by the patient after the doctor's explanation and information is provided. There are 3 (three) main components of doctor's accountability reflected in informed consent, consisting of (1) professionalism, (2) transparency, and (3) best treatment.

Keywords

• accountability
• informed consent
• health
• physician
• patient