Which is NOT a component of informed consent?

• A. Capacity
• B. Information
• C. Voluntariness
• D. Confidentiality

Answer: (D)

Informed consent rests on three essential elements: capacity to understand and make a decision, receiving adequate information about what will be done (including risks, benefits, and alternatives), and making the choice voluntarily without coercion. Capacity means the person can understand the treatment, appreciate what it would mean for them, and communicate a clear choice. Information means you provide a clear explanation of what will happen, the expected benefits, potential risks, and other options, ensuring the person truly understands. Voluntariness means the decision is their own, free from pressure, manipulation, or threats, and they can decline or withdraw at any time.

Confidentiality, while critically important in practice, is about protecting the privacy of the person’s information and who can access it. It’s not a required part of the decision to proceed with services itself, though you may discuss how data will be kept private as part of the information provided. It remains a separate obligation that applies regardless of the consent decision.