expression

informed consent

a patient's agreement to treatment after understanding the risks

In more detail

1. (noun) permission to do something (especially a medical procedure) given by someone who understands the risks and benefits involved

2. (noun) the principle that a person should know and agree to what will happen before it happens

Examples

1. The doctor obtained informed consent before starting the surgery.
2. The research study required informed consent from all participants.

How to use informed consent

Informed consent is a legal and ethical principle requiring that a person understand the material risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreeing to a medical procedure, treatment, or research participation. It emphasizes the combination of disclosure and voluntary agreement; consent without adequate information does not meet this standard. The term is most common in medical, legal, and research contexts.

Common phrases

give informed consent
obtain informed consent
informed consent form
informed consent process
lack of informed consent
informed consent requirements

Synonyms

voluntary consent · knowing consent · consent with full disclosure

Opposites

coerced consent · uninformed consent

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'informed consent' as a countable noun or forget that both understanding (informed) and agreement (consent) are essential components.

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