Define informed consent.

• A. A patient’s voluntary agreement to treatment after being informed of risks, benefits, and alternatives.
• B. A patient’s explicit agreement to all hospital procedures.
• C. A doctor’s decision to proceed without patient input.
• D. A patient’s obligation to follow orders.

Answer: (A)

Informed consent is a patient’s voluntary agreement to a proposed treatment after being informed of its risks, benefits, and alternatives, including the option of no treatment. It hinges on the patient’s capacity to understand the information and to make a free, uncoerced decision. The clinician provides clear, understandable information, discusses alternatives, and answers questions, but the final decision rests with the patient. This concept goes beyond simply agreeing to every procedure or blindly following orders; it protects patient autonomy by ensuring decisions are made with knowledge and choice.