Consentimiento informado en la atención hospitalaria: propuestas para eliminar barreras en su aplicación.

Abstract

Informed consent is a fundamental principle in hospital medical care, ensuring patients' right to make autonomous decisions about their health. However, its implementation faces several barriers, such as lack of time in hospital settings, the use of technical jargon that is hard to understand, cultural differences, and insufficient training of medical staff. The primary goal of this research was to identify these barriers and propose solutions to improve the application of informed consent in the hospital setting. The methodology used included a descriptive and qualitative approach, with interviews with medical specialists and a literature review. It was found that the most significant barriers are organizational, communicative, and educational, and solutions were proposed such as the creation of standardized protocols, continuous staff training, and the implementation of educational materials adapted to the cultural and linguistic needs of patients. It was concluded that improving staff training and effective communication are key to strengthening patient autonomy and ensuring ethical and respectful medical care.