What is Informed Consent?

Informed Consent – a permission for something to happen that is granted with the knowledge of possible consequences, risks and benefits. Informed consent is a process in which an individual is provided with comprehensive information about a procedure, treatment, or data collection practice, allowing them to make a voluntary and informed decision about whether to proceed. In the context of healthcare, informed consent involves explaining the risks, benefits, alternatives, and potential consequences of a medical procedure or treatment to a patient, who then provides their voluntary agreement to proceed.

In the context of data privacy, informed consent involves clearly explaining to individuals how their personal data will be collected, used, shared, and stored, and obtaining their explicit agreement before processing their data. This ensures that individuals are fully aware of and understand the implications of their consent, allowing them to make an educated decision.