What is the primary reason for obtaining informed consent before treatment?

The primary reason for obtaining informed consent before treatment is to promote patient autonomy. Informed consent is rooted in the ethical principle that patients have the right to make decisions regarding their own healthcare. It involves providing patients with comprehensive information about their diagnosis, treatment options, potential risks and benefits, and alternative treatments, allowing them to understand and participate actively in their care.

Ensuring legal compliance is certainly an important aspect of informed consent, but it serves a broader purpose: safeguarding the patient's right to make informed choices. Although mitigating serious side effects is crucial for patient safety and well-being, the foundation of informed consent is grounded in respecting and promoting the individual’s autonomy and self-determination regarding health decisions. The emphasis on patient autonomy underscores the ethical obligation of healthcare providers to respect patients as individuals with the capacity to govern their own health and medical decisions.