EC Gynaecology

This paper investigates the paramount importance of informed consent in cosmetic genital surgery, delving into its legal and ethical dimensions. It defines 'free and informed consent’, outlines the requisite procedures for valid consent acquisition, and addresses special considerations for minors and individuals under guardianship. The study underscores the necessity for explicit and comprehensive communication between surgeons and patients regarding realistic expectations, potential complications, and financial obligations. It emphasizes the role of visual tools, such as preoperative photography, and the critical need to meticulously document the consent process to minimize medicolegal liabilities. Acknowledging the difficulties in ensuring full patient understanding, with evidence suggesting patients may retain only approximately 35% of consultation details, this work contends that informed consent, while indispensable, is not the exclusive factor influencing legal judgments. Consequently, it advocates for a patient-centric, educational approach to consent, tailored to each individual's specific needs and decision-making style. Ultimately, the paper asserts that rigorous, well-documented consent protocols are vital to safeguard both patients and practitioners in the context of aesthetic gynecological procedures.

 Keywords: Informed Consent; Medical Expectations; Medical Lawsuits; Medical Photography; Medical Data; Noncompliance; Surgical Risk; Aesthetic Gynecology; Cosmetic Surgery; Medical Ethics; Patient Rights; Surgical Complications; Medical Liability

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