When obtaining informed consent, which elements must be disclosed?

• A. Only the cost of treatment
• B. Risks, benefits, and alternatives before treatment
• C. Only the potential benefits
• D. Only the alternatives

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that informed consent rests on giving the patient enough information to make an informed, voluntary decision before any treatment. That means clearly communicating what the treatment can achieve (benefits), what could go wrong or what risks are involved, and what other options exist (alternatives), including doing nothing. Only then can the patient weigh options and consent or refuse based on understanding.

Cost is not a required element of informed consent in most clinical standards, and focusing solely on benefits or solely on alternatives omits essential information about risks and other options, so those choices don’t provide a complete basis for making an informed decision.