The Meaning of informed consent in paternity testing

Abstract

The following objectives have been set: to frame the concept and the requirements for informed consent, to analyse the legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania covering the issues regarding informed consent, to analyse types of and indications for paternity testing and to name legal and ethical problems arising from application of the informed consent. The concept of informed consent is based on the principle of autonomy. The obligation of doctors to inform patients is inseparable from the requirement to receive informed consent. The two parts are mandatory for any medical procedures and interventions. The main requirements for the informed consent include rationality, sufficient and clear information, free will and the form of consent conforming to the legal acts. However, the informed consent is not an absolute requirement as the patient has a right to remain uninformed. Additionally, under certain circumstances it might be impossible to inform patients or to receive consent from patients or their duly authorised representatives. The main problems of the informed consent in paternity testing, by outlining two stages of the process: conveyance before testing and interpretation of the results with it’s effectivenes.