PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Akira Akabayashi
AU  - Michael D Fetters
TI  - Paying for informed consent
AID  - 10.1136/jme.26.3.212
DP  - 2000 Jun 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 212--213
VI  - 26
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/26/3/212.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/26/3/212.full
SO  - J Med Ethics2000 Jun 01; 26
AB  - The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare has implemented a policy of paying physicians to explain the nature of the patient's medical condition and the treatment plan. We describe the precepts of this policy and examine ethical dimensions of this development. We question whether this policy will be sufficient to ensure patients will have the opportunity to become informed participants in medical decision making. The policy also raises a broader philosophical question as to whether informed consent is a fundamental ethical requirement of all doctor-patient encounters or an option that can be exercised by physicians for financial gain. The impact of this policy in Japan merits continued observation from abroad.