The doctrine of informed consent has had its practical introduction to medical malpractice litigation in the past five years. Its definition has not changed since the days when its definitive application was only a fond dream of the malpractice plaintiffs attorneys. However, with neh new methods of presenting this theory to the courts, and with the newly emerging practice fo having rulings on matters of law substituted by judges for prevailing standards of medical practice, the implications for family physicians have become tremendous. Hopefullum by understanding the principles involved in its application in the pertinent landmark cases, family physicians will be better able to abid the pitfalls engendered by the doctrine of informed consent.