Informed consent: issues for providers.

Although obtaining informed consent is an important part of the hematologist/oncologist's practice, understanding the legal consequences can assist the practitioner to understand why it is necessary to disclose as much information as he or she does. By following the standard of care used in the state of practice, the physician can decrease the risk of being sued by patients for lack of informed consent, thus fulfilling his or her legal and ethical duties by providing the patient with all the information necessary to make an informed decision.