What is informed consent?

Informed consent is fundamentally about ensuring that a patient understands the risks and benefits associated with a procedure or treatment before agreeing to it. This process involves providing detailed information about the proposed intervention, including its purpose, potential adverse effects, alternatives, and what to expect during and after the procedure. This empowers patients to make knowledgeable decisions about their healthcare based on an understanding of their options and the implications of their choices.

While satisfying all patient requests may be part of good care, it does not encapsulate the essence of informed consent, which focuses on patient understanding rather than merely fulfilling requests. Verbal agreements might indicate a patient's willingness, but they do not necessarily reflect an understanding of the complexities involved in medical treatments. Additionally, documenting a patient's medical history is an important aspect of patient care but does not pertain to obtaining informed consent. The key factor in informed consent is the emphasis on understanding, making option B the most accurate representation of this important ethical and legal concept in healthcare.