Geographic Variation in Informed Consent Law: Two Standards for Disclosure of Treatment Risks

Posted: 20 Nov 2007 Last revised: 26 Dec 2014

See all articles by David M. Studdert

David M. Studdert

University of Melbourne - Faculty of Law & Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Michelle M. Mello

Stanford Law School; Department of Medicine

Marin K. Levy

Duke University School of Law

Russell L. Gruen

University of Melbourne - Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Edward J. Dunn

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

John Orav

Harvard University - Brigham and Women's Hospital

Troyen A. Brennan

Aetna, Inc.

Abstract

We analyzed 714 jury verdicts in informed consent cases tried in 25 US states in 1985-2002 to determine whether the applicable standard of care ("patient" versus "professional" standard) affected the outcome. Verdicts for plaintiffs were significantly more frequent in states with a patient standard than in states with a professional standard (27% vs 17%, P=0.02). This difference in outcomes did not hold for other types of medical malpractice litigation (36% vs 37%, P=0.8). The multivariate odds of a plaintiff's verdict were more than twice as high in states with a patient standard than in states with a professional standard (Odds Ratio=2.15, 95% Confidence Interval=1.32-3.50). The law's expectations of clinicians with respect to risk disclosure appear to vary geographically.

Keywords: informed consent, treatment risk, disclosure

JEL Classification: K13, K32

Suggested Citation

Studdert, David M. and Mello, Michelle M. and Levy, Marin K. and Gruen, Russell L. and Dunn, Edward J. and Orav, John and Brennan, Troyen A., Geographic Variation in Informed Consent Law: Two Standards for Disclosure of Treatment Risks. Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 103-124, March 2007, U of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No. 289, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1031303

David M. Studdert (Contact Author)

University of Melbourne - Faculty of Law & Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences ( email )

185 Pelham Street
Carlton, Victoria 3053
Australia

Michelle M. Mello

Stanford Law School ( email )

559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
United States
650-725-3894 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://law.stanford.edu/directory/michelle-m-mello/

Department of Medicine ( email )

Center for Health Policy / PCOR
Encina Commons
Stanford, CA 94305
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://profiles.stanford.edu/michelle-mello?tab=bio

Marin K. Levy

Duke University School of Law ( email )

210 Science Drive
Box 90362
Durham, NC 27708
United States

Russell L. Gruen

University of Melbourne - Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences ( email )

Australia

Edward J. Dunn

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ( email )

810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
United States

John Orav

Harvard University - Brigham and Women's Hospital ( email )

75 Francis St.
Boston, MA 02115
United States

Troyen A. Brennan

Aetna, Inc. ( email )

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