Informed ConsentAccording to West's Encyclopedia of American Law, the definition of informed consent is "a patient's consent to a surgical or medical procedure or to participation in a clinical study after gaining an understanding of the facts relevant doctors and the risks involved” (Fallon LFJr, 2010, p. 1). Basically it is a form which states that the doctor has explained, in words that the patient can understand, the details of the treatment or procedure that is proposed to him. , including the benefits and risks, as well as the alternatives that the patient signs the form generally states what the procedure is, what the risks are and what the alternatives are, and that he or she understands and accepts those risks. Other factors the doctor must consider are: first, “the patient must have the legal authority to give consent, secondly, they must be competent, they must be willing to give consent of their own free will and they must be informed about the risks and benefits by someone knowledgeable to answer questions before consenting" (Benak L., 2006, p. 48). In Ms. Sparza's case, her English proficiency was limited and she was dependent on her son as the initial interpreter. However, in the operating room where the consent for the operation was to be signed, her son was not there. She refused to sign a consent form, because she understood enough English to know that the surgery would be performed on one eye and the consent form stated that it would be for both eyes. The doctor in scrubs with an interpreter spoke to her for a minute and she... in the center of the sheet... Fonte Salute. (Document ID: 1017597721)Conn, V. M. (1998). Legal aspects of emergency medical services. Philadelphia: WB Sanders Company. (Original work published in 1998)Fallon LFJr. (2010). Informed consent. In West's Encyclopedia of American Law. Retrieved June 11, 2010, from Answers.com website: http://www.answers.com/topic/informed-consent Ferguson P. (1997). Cause death or allow death? Legal developments. Journal of Medical Ethics, 23(6), 368, 5. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from ProQuest. (25504044)Rehnquist, C. J. (1997). Supreme Court. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from Cornell University Law School website: http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/96-110.ZS.htmlWojahn A. (2009). Informed consent. In the Encyclopedia of Surgery. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from the Encyclopedia of Surgery website: http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Pa-St/Preoperative-care