Under the reasonable person standard, a patient should be informed of what?

• A. Only information the doctor deems necessary
• B. All information a reasonable person would want to know beforehand
• C. Only the best available option
• D. No information is required

Answer: (B)

Informed consent under the reasonable person standard means disclosing information a patient would reasonably want to know before deciding on a medical option. This focuses on patient autonomy—giving enough detail about what the procedure involves, the risks and benefits, available alternatives (including no treatment), and the potential consequences of choosing or declining treatment—so a typical person can make a sound, voluntary choice.

This isn’t about every imaginable fact, but about material information a reasonable person would want to weigh in deciding what to do. That includes likely outcomes, the chances of success, major risks (even if rare), and practical implications like cost or impact on daily life. The other options cue the practitioner’s own judgment (what’s deemed necessary), a sole focus on the “best” option, or no information at all, all of which undermine patient autonomy and the duty to obtain informed consent.