Stories of medical complications often dominate headlines, but behind many of these crises lies something quieter and more fixable: communication.
Understanding how risk is discussed — and how consent truly works — can transform the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals. This column unpacks why risk feels confusing, how it should be explained, and how patients can take an active role in shared decision‑making.
When headlines create fear
In recent months, the press has been filled with reports of surgeries gone wrong — stories of patients whose lives were severely affected by short‑ and long‑term complications, followed by anger, frustration, and public outcry about how doctors should be regulated.
In many of these cases, the heart of the problem lies not in the operating theatre but in the consultation room. When communication falters, when procedures aren’t fully understood, and when the approach isn’t genuinely patient‑centred, misunderstandings grow. Stronger conversations, clearer explanations, and an open, collaborative style of care could prevent many of these incidents.
Risk: A part of everyday life
Risk is simply the chance that something might cause harm. We accept risk constantly — driving, exercising, even eating. Healthcare is no different. Every test, treatment, or procedure carries some degree of risk, even when that risk is tiny. What matters is whether the potential benefit outweighs the potential harm for you.
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There is no such thing as zero risk. And how you feel about a risk depends on your personal comfort zone, your past experiences, and your understanding of the situation.
Why you need to understand risk
When you’re considering a procedure, operation or screening test, you deserve to know:
• the benefits
• the risks
• the uncertainties
• the alternatives
• what happens if you choose to do nothing
But your perception of risk is shaped by many factors — how serious the harm might be, whether it’s temporary or permanent, how much control you feel you have, and how much you trust the person explaining it. Two people can hear the same information and walk away with completely different impressions.
Why risk is hard to explain
Health care professionals rely on population‑level data. For example, “one in nine women will develop breast cancer” describes a group, not an individual. It cannot predict who the “one” will be.
Screening tests add another layer. A high‑risk result for Down syndrome in pregnancy doesn’t mean the baby has the condition — only that the chance is higher than a set threshold. A low‑risk result doesn’t mean the chance is zero.
Risk can be expressed as numbers, percentages, or words like 'rare' or “common”. Each format lands differently. Some people prefer numbers; others find them abstract and prefer plain language or visuals.
A lesson from the pill scare
The 1995 'pill scare' is a classic example of risk being poorly communicated. Headlines announced that certain contraceptive pills doubled the risk of blood clots. Doubling anything sounds dramatic — but the original risk was 1 in 6000. The new risk was 1 in 3000. Still rare.
Without context, fear filled the gap. Many women stopped their pills abruptly, leading to unintended pregnancies. It showed how easily risk can be misunderstood when numbers are presented without explanation.
What good consent conversations look like
A good consent discussion is not a formality — it’s a partnership. Healthcare professionals should:
• involve you fully
• tailor information to your circumstances
• present risk in more than one way
• speak clearly and honestly
• listen to your concerns
• give you time to think
• check your understanding
And on your part, it helps to:
• say when you don’t understand
• ask for information in a different format
• request more time if needed
Decision aids, diagrams, and simple comparisons can make complex information easier to grasp.
Shared decision‑making: Start with three questions
If you’re facing a choice, try beginning with:
1. What are my options?
2. What are the pros and cons of each option for me?
3. How do I get support to make the decision that’s right for me?
These questions work across all areas of health care.
The reality: Time pressures are real
In an ideal world, every consent conversation would be unhurried. In reality, especially in high‑volume public systems such as those in India, clinicians often juggle overwhelming patient loads. Time is short, and privacy can be limited. This makes it even more important for patients to come prepared and speak up.
Risk is part of life, but confusion doesn’t have to be. When clinicians and patients communicate openly and collaboratively, consent becomes more than a signature — it becomes a shared commitment to making the best possible decision together.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
