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38 U.S.C. 7331: Informed consentText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 38-VETERANS’ BENEFITSCHAPTER 73-VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION-ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
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§7331. Informed consent

The Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health and pursuant to the provisions of section 7334 of this title, shall prescribe regulations establishing procedures to ensure that all medical and prosthetic research carried out and, to the maximum extent practicable, all patient care furnished under this title shall be carried out only with the full and informed consent of the patient or subject or, in appropriate cases, a representative thereof.

(Added Pub. L. 94–581, title I, § 111(a)(1) , Oct. 21, 1976 , 90 Stat. 2849 , § 4131; renumbered § 7331 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV , §§ 401(a)(4)(A), 402(d)(1), 403(a)(1), May 7, 1991 , 105 Stat. 221 , 239; Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(c)(1) , Oct. 9, 1992 , 106 Stat. 1984 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992⁠—Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director”.

1991⁠—Pub. L. 102–40, § 401(a)(4)(A), renumbered section 4131 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 403(a)(1), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–40, § 402(d)(1), substituted “7334” for “4134”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Subchapter effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as an Effective Date of 1976 Amendment note under section 111 of this title.