CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

Which of the following is not a component of informed consent?

1. Explanation of the procedure

2. Risks and benefits

3. Financial costs

4. Alternatives to treatment

The correct answer is: Financial costs

Informed consent encompasses several key components that ensure a patient fully understands the procedure they are about to undergo. Among these components, providing an explanation of the procedure is crucial as it allows the patient to grasp what will happen during the intervention. Discussing the risks and benefits is equally important because it informs the patient about potential complications and the positive outcomes they might expect, thus enabling them to make an educated choice regarding their healthcare. Furthermore, discussing alternatives to treatment is essential in informed consent. Patients should be aware of other possible options available to them, which allows them to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of various approaches. While financial costs may undoubtedly play a role in a patient’s decision-making process, they are not considered a fundamental part of informed consent in the same way as the direct clinical aspects of the treatment are. Therefore, understanding that informed consent is primarily focused on the medical details—what the procedure involves, the associated risks and benefits, and possible alternatives—demonstrates why financial costs do not fit within the core components of informed consent.