Giving Information and Seeking Consent

Abstract

Given all the variable influences upon ethical decision-making, keeping the issues separate for purposes of analysis or review is almost impossible. This is illustrated most forcefully when addressing the means and methods for seeking consent from subjects to participate in research. The frequently used phrase ‘informed consent’ alone illustrates the first combination of variables to take into consideration — there is a view that gaining consent cannot be separated from the giving of information. More often the phrase ‘voluntary informed consent’ is used which implies the subject was able to choose freely to give consent and to subsequently participate in the research.