What is a key purpose of the informed consent process?

The informed consent process serves a crucial role in the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects. Its primary purpose is to ensure that participants are fully aware of their rights and understand the nature of the study they are being asked to join. This includes information about the research procedures, potential benefits and risks, and the overall aims of the study. By providing this information, researchers obtain voluntary participation from individuals, which is a fundamental ethical principle in human subjects research.

Participants must have a clear understanding of what their involvement entails, enabling them to make an informed decision regarding their participation. This process respects individuals' autonomy, allowing them to weigh the information provided and choose freely whether or not to participate in the research. Thus, the informed consent process is integral to maintaining ethical standards in research and protecting the welfare of participants.