Consent forms--how, or whether, they should be used.

If written consent forms are to be used--their use normally is not mandatory--care should be taken that their use is proper and, hence, beneficial. To be of benefit to the physician, the consent forms must help him in meeting his duty to inform the patient or in protecting him from a patient's claim that his was not an informed consent (or both). Consent forms are of no benefit to the physician or the patient if they are worded poorly or put to poor use. Suggestions are provided to help the physician in considering his or her use of written consent forms.