Is it necessary for informed consent to provide contact numbers of patients who have undergone the treatment?

Informed consent is a fundamental aspect of ethical medical practice, ensuring that patients are fully aware of the treatment they will receive, including its risks, benefits, and alternatives. While informed consent requires a comprehensive understanding of the treatment process, it does not typically mandate the provision of contact numbers of past patients who have undergone the same treatment.

The rationale for this is primarily centered around patient privacy and confidentiality. Health care providers are obligated to protect the personal information of all patients, which includes their contact details. Sharing contact numbers without patient consent would violate privacy laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, which safeguards individual medical information.

Furthermore, during the informed consent process, patients are given the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification about the treatment, which may involve discussions about prior patient experiences, but this does not require direct contact with those individuals. If patients wish to speak with others who have had the treatment, they can typically request this, but it isn't a standard component of the informed consent process.