What is the purpose of informed consent in athletic training?

• A. To ensure consent is obtained without disclosing risks
• B. To obtain consent only to document for records
• C. To ensure the patient understands risks, benefits, and alternatives before agreeing to treatment
• D. To speed up treatment decisions

Answer: (C)

Informed consent is about helping the athlete understand what a treatment involves before agreeing to it. It means clearly explaining the risks, benefits, and available alternatives (including doing nothing) so the athlete can make a voluntary, well-informed decision. In athletic training this is essential for respecting the athlete’s autonomy and guiding shared decision-making about care and rehabilitation. The aim isn’t to disclose risks improperly or to document consent as a box-ticking task, nor to rush decisions; it’s to ensure value-based choices are made with a full understanding of what may happen with or without the proposed treatment.