In this publication: large overview in literature in patients' autonomy, privacy and informed consent has been made. Generally, this has a special importance for many groups, because of that the patients' rights have been emphased during 1990s in Europe and also in other countries. For example, WHO published a declaration on the promotion of patients' rights in Europe in 1994 and there are many countries working with the legislation of patients' rights. So, this publication gives a good view over the literature in the area. * Also, in the publication the are collected the laws and ethical codes, referring to this topic. This is also important: usually they are not in the same book. * In ethics, there is not so much empirical research done. In this book, we have tried to describe the ethical research made in this area. * In more special areas, the book is important for nurses/health care workers in surgical nursing (informed consent has a special importance here, particulary in day-care-surgery), elderly care and maternity care, because of that these groups have been under special interest.