What describes an individual’s consent to touch or medical treatment?

The correct answer is informed consent. This term refers to the process by which a patient is provided with essential information regarding a medical procedure or treatment, allowing them to make an educated decision about whether to consent to that intervention. Informed consent encompasses understanding the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the suggested interventions, which empowers individuals to make choices based on their own values and preferences.

In contrast, explicit consent typically refers to a clear and direct agreement, often verbal or non-verbal, but it may not encompass the comprehensive information aspect included in informed consent. Implied consent usually arises in situations where a person's actions suggest agreement, such as when a patient rolls up their sleeve for a blood draw, but it does not involve the detailed information discussion central to informed consent. Written consent involves documented agreement, which is often part of the informed consent process, but informed consent can also be verbal or implied depending on the context. Hence, informed consent accurately captures the concept of understanding and agreeing to the treatment after receiving complete information.