California Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Law and Ethics exam

What is the purpose of informed consent in therapy?

1. To protect the therapist from liability

2. To ensure the client understands the therapy process and their rights

3. To provide clients with legal documentation

4. To establish the therapist's authority

The correct answer is: To ensure the client understands the therapy process and their rights

Informed consent in therapy serves the essential purpose of ensuring that clients fully understand the therapy process and their rights before engaging in treatment. This concept is fundamental to ethical practice in healthcare, demonstrating respect for the client's autonomy and empowering them to make informed decisions about their own treatment. Clients should be made aware of the nature and purpose of the therapy, potential risks and benefits, the procedures involved, and any alternative treatments available. Informed consent is not merely a formality; it is an ongoing process that fosters clear communication between the therapist and the client, builds trust, and enhances the therapeutic relationship. While aspects such as legal protection for the therapist and appropriate documentation have their own importance, they are secondary to the primary goal of client understanding and empowerment inherent in informed consent. Furthermore, establishing a therapist's authority is not a valid purpose of informed consent, as the emphasis should be on the client's knowledge and active participation in their treatment plan.