The author suggests that the frequency and severity of tardive
dyskinesia in patients treated with neuroleptic drugs requires that
informed consent be obtained from all patients receiving such treatment.
The three basic conditions for obtaining informed consent are reviewed with
discussion of some of the ethical problems encountered in the informed
consent procedure. Most of these problems will be resolved if specific,
written, informed consent is obtained from the patient, or his
representative, within six weeks of initiating therapy, although in some
cases questions may be raised about the very possibility of obtaining
consent.Abstract Teaser