What is the primary purpose of informed consent in patient care?

• A. It guarantees payment by insurance.
• B. To ensure patients understand risks, benefits, alternatives, and voluntary nature of treatment so they can make an informed decision.
• C. It legally binds patients to treatment regardless of choice.
• D. It ensures clinicians know patient preferences after the fact.

Answer: (B)

Informed consent centers on patient autonomy and shared decision-making. Its primary purpose is to ensure that patients understand what a proposed treatment involves—the risks, potential benefits, possible alternatives (including doing nothing), and the voluntary nature of the choice—so they can make a decision that aligns with their values and preferences. This process isn’t about securing insurance payment, binding someone to treatment without regard to their wishes, or capturing preferences after the fact. Instead, it provides the information and space for patients to weigh options before moving forward, and it supports their right to accept, modify, or decline care as part of an ongoing, collaborative relationship with their clinicians.