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Making informed choices (Informed consent)

In health care we use a term called ‘Informed consent’ to describe making an informed choice about your health care.

Informed consent is a process that ensures you understand the benefits, risks and alternatives before you agree to something like a medical treatment, test or procedure.

It’s about your right to make decisions about your own health and wellbeing.

Health professionals have a legal, ethical and professional responsibility to make sure consent is properly obtained. It also helps ensure care is focused on your needs and choices.

What is informed consent?

Informed consent is a person’s agreement, given voluntarily, to a healthcare treatment, procedure or other intervention.

This requires the provision of accessible, accurate and relevant information about the healthcare intervention, and the expected outcomes, benefits, risks and alternative options, relevant to that person, including:

  • doing nothing
  • watching and waiting
  • and/or lifestyle interventions.
     

Why is informed consent important? 

Informed consent is a key safety and quality issue and must be validly obtained and appropriately timed.

When done well, informed consent helps people understand the risks, benefits, alternatives, potential consequences and costs of health care.

Informed consent is integral to the right to information in the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights, and recognised in Professional Codes of Conduct.

The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards require all hospitals and day hospitals to have informed consent processes that comply with legislation, lawful requirements and best practice.

We have practical guidance on informed consent for patients and substitute decision makers.

Top tips for informed consent

When preparing for or taking part in informed consent processes remember you can:

  • have a support person attend the visit with you
  • ask for an interpreter if you need one
  • share any communication needs you may have
  • ask for things to be repeated, explained in a different way or for more information
  • ask questions
  • take time to talk with other people before making a decision
  • do your own research or look for more information
  • seek a second opinion, if you are not sure what’s right for you
  • ask for another visit or appointment before you decide.

Resources for health professionals

Our fact sheet for clinicians describes the key principles of informed consent and provides information about the importance of key conversations. decision-making capacity and what support patients may need to participate in those conversations.

We have an online education module that supports clinicians develop and refine their skills in communicating effectively about the benefits and risks of treatment options with consumers.

A better way to care provides guidance for health professionals on how to safely and respectively gain informed consent from people with cognitive impairment or at risk of delirium.

Additional information for consumers

We have additional information that can help you understand your healthcare rights and be involved in conversations and decisions about your health care.

Last updated: 26 May 2026