Which statement accurately reflects informed consent?

• A. The doctor will inform the patient of all consequences of decisions
• B. The patient has the right only to test results
• C. If a test is mandatory there is no consent
• D. Signing a consent form alone constitutes informed consent

Answer: (C)

Informed consent centers on autonomy and voluntary choice after an adequate discussion of what a procedure entails. If a test is mandatory, the person's decision to undergo it isn’t really voluntary because external requirements compel participation. In that sense, genuine informed consent isn’t present when a test must be done by rule or policy, even though the patient should still be informed about what the test involves and any practical implications.

Understanding that helps distinguish the other ideas. Simply telling a patient about every possible consequence isn’t how informed consent works in practice; providers share material risks, benefits, and alternatives that are relevant to the decision, not an catalog of endless outcomes. And consent isn’t satisfied by a form alone—the patient must understand the information and agree voluntarily. Likewise, consent isn’t merely about access to test results; it covers the procedure itself, what it entails, and its potential impacts, not just the results.