informed consent
Legal and ethical requirement ensuring clients understand the nature, risks, benefits, and alternatives of psychiatric treatment before agreeing to participate.
Full Definition
Informed consent is a fundamental ethical and legal principle in psychiatric therapy that requires therapists to provide clients with comprehensive information about treatment before obtaining their agreement to proceed. This includes explaining the nature of therapy, potential risks and benefits, alternative treatments, confidentiality limits, fees, and the voluntary nature of treatment. For informed consent to be valid, the client must have the capacity to understand the information, receive adequate disclosure, and make a voluntary decision without coercion.
Usage
Usage note: Two words, not hyphenated. Essential for legal and ethical practice.
In Context
- "The therapist reviewed informed consent procedures before beginning the trauma-focused treatment." — Clinical documentation
- "Informed consent documents must be updated to reflect changes in treatment modalities." — Compliance review