PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY OR ELECTIVE MEDICAL CARE

Healthcare institutions are complex systems governed by policies, protocols, and standards of care that may not always reflect an individual patient’s values, preferences, or wishes. 

During the COVID-19 era, the standard of “informed consent” was systematically abandoned.

The I Do Not Consent Form™  by Laura Bartlett and Margaret Aranda helps individuals clearly document and communicate their healthcare decisions before a medical event occurs. By executing this notarized document, you establish a written record of your wishes and provide healthcare providers with clear notice of the boundaries and conditions under which you consent. Learn more.

In the early 1900s, courts began recognizing that competent adults have the right to control what happens to their own bodies. A landmark case, Schloendorff v. Society of New York Hospital, established the principle that medical treatment without a patient’s permission could constitute battery.

Over the decades, informed consent became a cornerstone of medical ethics and patient rights. Individuals were told they had the right to receive information about risks, benefits, and alternatives, and to voluntarily accept or refuse medical treatment without coercion.

Then came COVID-19.

Suddenly, informed consent disappeared. People were told to trust the experts, follow the directives, wear the mask, get the shot, and not ask questions. Concerns about risks, individual circumstances, and personal choice were dismissed in favor of compliance and appeals to the “greater good.”

The lesson is simple: Never assume informed consent will be fully offered or protected simply because you are in a doctor’s office or hospital. If your medical choices matter to you, be prepared, ask questions, document your wishes, and clearly communicate your decisions. Your rights are strongest when you proactively assert them.