Informed consent takes place when a patient or research subject, having received adequate information about treatment, nursing care, or research, delegates authority for treatment and care to healthcare workers or grants consent to participate in research. This process extends beyond the responsibility of medical professionals and researchers to provide necessary information, emphasizing the right to self-determination for patients and subjects.

Ruth R. Faden et al. identify critical elements of informed consent, including disclosure, understanding, voluntariness, capacity, and consent. The foundation of informed consent lies in the voluntary decision-making of patients and subjects. Healthcare professionals and researchers are obliged to assist individuals in decision-making, upholding ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, honesty, and loyalty. Moreover, determining the decision-making ability and communication skills of patients or subjects is essential for providing decision-making support. This necessitates establishing a supportive environment, fostering positive interactions, and allocating time for engagement with patients and their families.

Informed assent is a concept similar to informed consent and is applied to children aged 7-14 and children with intellectual disabilities

• Dooley, D., & McCarthy, J. (2006). Nursing ethics 1 (Sakagawa, M., Trans.). Misuzu Shobo, Ltd.
• Faden, R. R., & Beauchamp, T. L. (1994). Informed consent: Patient selection (Sakai, T., & Hata, Y., Trans.). Misuzu Shobo, Ltd.
• Japanese Nursing Association (Ed.). (2006). New edition: Basic responsibilities of nurses: Definitions and concepts, basic law, ethics. Japanese Nursing Association Publishing.
• Yoshitake, K. (2007). Medical ethics and consensus building: Decision-making in the field of treatment and care. Toshindo.