Question

From Chapter 9, Darr (2011, p. 216) writes, "consent must be voluntary, competent, and informed". Explain each and why is it important.

Answer 1

Ans) Consent must be voluntary:

- It means voluntary choice to participate--or refuse to participate--in a project where they will be asked to take risks for the benefit of themselves/others.

Consent must be competent:

- It means that a competent person has:

• the capacity to make a choice about a proposed course of action/ Intervention
• knows about the risks, benefits, alternatives;
• understands that that consent is ‘voluntary and continuing permission’;
• understands that consent ‘can be withdrawn at any time’.

Consent must be informed:

- Informed consent is the process by which the treating health care provider discloses appropriate information to a competent patient so that the patient may make a voluntary choice to accept or refuse treatment.