Facilitating Informed Consent: A Multicultural Perspective

Respect for the dignity and autonomy of patients has long been a fundamental principle of ethical decision making. As a practical matter, a primary way of maintaining this ethical standard is by obtaining an individual’s informed consent prior to intervening or collecting data. By giving individuals clear information about alternative treatments and potential risks and benefits, the practitioner tries to ensure that the patient can make an informed choice. However, there are cases in which those seeking informed consent have very different values and belief systems from those whose consent is being sought. In this article we explore such discrepancies using informed consent with Navajo clients as an example, illustrate potential challenges with case examples, and propose ways in which ethical dilemmas may be successfully navigated.