Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

Informed consent is a foundational principle in medical ethics and nursing practice that emphasizes the importance of patient autonomy. The primary ethical concern related to informed consent is ensuring that patients are not deceived and fully understand their choices. This involves providing clear, accurate, and comprehensive information about the proposed procedure, including its risks, benefits, and alternatives, thus enabling patients to make educated decisions about their healthcare.

This focus on understanding is crucial because it protects the patient's right to make independent choices regarding their treatment options. Patients must be capable of weighing the information presented to them and deciding on a course of action that aligns with their values and preferences.

Other options may seem relevant, but they do not capture the essence of informed consent as effectively. Coercion undermines patient autonomy, and while ensuring written consent or a witness might have legal implications, these aspects do not directly address the ethical concern of patient understanding and autonomy. A focus on information disclosure and comprehension is what fundamentally upholds the ethical standard of informed consent.