Patient Consent: Issues in the Legal Regulation of Client-Professional Relationship.

The article presents a discussion on the development of legally mandated patient consent procedures in the formalization of the doctor-patient relationship. It addresses the limitations of law to transform the nature of social transactions between doctors and patients. It is based on the studies conducted to determine the effects of the law passed in Hawaii which require all physicians treating breast cancer patients to present a standardized patient education form about alternative treatment. The law increases the patient's role in the decision making process.