The Difficulties of Informed Consent in Stem Cell Transplant

Informed consent is the process by which a competent patient is provided with a sufficient amount of relevant information to make an educated decision about a procedure. The process of informed consent is designed to prioritize patients’ autonomy. Stem cell transplant (SCT) is a complicated process with many possible results and requirements for on-going decision-making depending on outcomes and complications. While understanding basic theories of decision science will help the physician provide improved information at the time of consent, experiential learning by the patients as they proceed through SCT may have the strongest influence in continued patient decision-making that may or may not align with their initial informed consent.