Track 31: Informed Consent and Patient Rights

Overview: Informed Consent and Patient Rights

Informed consent is a foundational ethical and legal requirement in medical research and clinical practice. It ensures that participants are fully informed about a study’s purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreeing to participate. Respecting patient rights means upholding autonomy, dignity, and the right to make voluntary, informed decisions without coercion or undue influence.

Key Sub-Topics:

Elements of Informed Consent · Voluntariness and Autonomy · Language and Comprehension · Ongoing Consent in Long-Term Studies · Documentation and Electronic Consent (eConsent) · Right to Withdraw from Research · Protection of Vulnerable Populations · Consent in Emergency Research · Parental Consent and Child Assent · Confidentiality and Data Privacy · Cultural Sensitivity in Consent Process · Ethics of Deception in Research · Consent in Genetic and Genomic Studies · Patient Education and Empowerment · Legal and Regulatory Requirements