Abstract
In Japan, it is often assumed that the idea of informed consent is well received by the American public, since the self-determination is part of the American values. If we look into the series of verdicts which established the idea, however, we find that the courts'concern is not only with the patient's right to self-determination based on information disclosure, but also with the patient's well-being. The latter concern, it could be contended, arouse out of the fact that patients may find the uncertainties inherent in medical practices, especially various risks accompanying medical procedures, too overwhelming and hard to cope with. The same concern can be found, in different forms, in various writings on informed consent in the field of bioethics.
