| Description |
Informed consent is a foundational element of bioethics. It specifically tackles what it means for a patient or a participant to say "yes" to procedures and experiments. The common person may not actively realize what is entailed when they sign their name on the signature line. This, coupled with the confusion surrounding making a choice and consenting, may result in a person offering their consent without being informed of what decision they are making. In times that are marked by growing distrust and confusion surrounding medical procedures and experiments, it is important for medical professionals, researchers, and everyday individuals to acknowledge their role in promoting making informed decisions to consent. This paper will attempt to explain the intricacies and complexities surrounding informed consent. It will do so by analyzing legal precedents, defining the elements of informed consent, discussing what can violate the informed consent requirement, and what consists of an exception to informed consent. By doing so, this paper will attempt to demonstrate the importance of the individual power of consent. By promoting understanding of informed consent, this paper hopes that it will raise awareness of the barriers to informed consent as they currently exist in the United States and other nations. |
