最高法院民事判決中關於違反醫師說明義務之實務觀察

The Observation of Physician's Duty Regarding Informed Consent in Civil Judgments of the Supreme Court

本研究旨在探討台灣最高法院民事判決中，關於告知說明義務之醫師專業裁量與病人自主權界線的劃分及其法律意涵；告知說明義務是現代醫療法律與倫理中的核心議題，特別是在病人自主權意識日益提高的背景下，其重要性更加突顯。隨著醫療技術的進步和病人對自身權利的重視，醫療糾紛案件的數量顯著增加，這不僅挑戰了醫療體系，也對法律體系提出了新的要求。
在醫療行為中，醫師的專業裁量權和病人的自主權之間往往存在著微妙的平衡，醫師基於專業知識和臨床經驗，對病情診斷和治療方案的選擇擁有相當大的裁量權。然而，這一裁量權不應以犧牲病人的知情同意權為代價。因此，醫師有義務以通俗易懂的語言向病人解釋病情、治療方案、可能的風險及替代療法，確保病人在充分了解情況的基礎上做出自主決定。
我國最高法院的相關判決顯示法院在醫師專業裁量與病人自主權之間尋求平衡的努力，通過完善法律規範和強化實務操作，本文期望透過整理並分析相關判決，成為立法者、司法機構及醫療實務界的參考，推動台灣醫療法律體系的進一步完善，以減少醫療糾紛的發生，促進醫患關係的和諧發展。

This study aims to explore the delineation and legal implications of physicians’ professional discretion and patients’ autonomy concerning the duty to inform, as reflected in the civil judgments of the Taiwan Supreme Court. The duty to inform is a core issue in modern medical law and ethics, particularly underscored by the growing awareness of patient autonomy. With advancements in medical technology and an increasing emphasis on patient rights, the number of medical disputes has significantly risen, posing new challenges to both the medical and legal systems.
In medical practice, there exists a delicate balance between the physician’s professional discretion and the patient’s autonomy. Physicians, based on their professional knowledge and clinical experience, possess considerable discretion in diagnosing and selecting treatment plans. However, this discretion should not come at the expense of the patient’s right to informed consent. Therefore, physicians are obligated to explain the patient’s condition, treatment options, potential risks, and alternative therapies in comprehensible terms, ensuring that patients make autonomous decisions based on full understanding.
The relevant judgments of the Taiwan Supreme Court illustrate the court’s efforts to balance physicians’ professional discretion with patients’ autonomy. By improving legal regulations and enhancing practical operations, this paper aims to compile and analyze relevant judgments to serve as a reference for legislators, judicial institutions, and the medical practice community. The goal is to promote further improvement of Taiwan’s medical legal system, reduce the incidence of medical disputes, and foster harmonious doctor-patient relationships.