Informed Consent for Chemotherapy: ASCO Member Resources

Consent to treatment is an important part of the delivery of quality cancer care. Physician practices that participate in ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) and others expressed interest in having ASCO provide informed consent resources, and indicated that they would be more likely to use a consent form for chemotherapy if ASCO provided a template. Recent Journal of Oncology Practice articles outlining unique factors in consent for chemotherapy, documentation issues, and malpractice concerns also raised member interest. In response, members of ASCO’s Ethics and Quality of Care Committees formed a joint working group to design a consent form template and other resources that provide a framework for consent conversations between oncologists and patients receiving chemotherapy.