Which professional is likely to utilize expressed consent?

Expressed consent refers to a clear, definitive agreement in which a patient explicitly grants permission for a healthcare provider to perform a specific medical procedure or treatment. This type of consent is often documented through verbal or written communication where the patient is fully informed about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the procedure or treatment being proposed.

In a clinical setting, all healthcare practitioners—including medical assistants, surgeons, and nurses—are involved in various aspects of patient care that may require expressed consent. Medical assistants often play a role in obtaining consent forms prior to procedures, surgeons need explicit consent before performing surgeries, and nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients understand what they are consenting to, thereby reinforcing the informed consent process.

The concept of expressed consent reinforces the importance of patient autonomy and the ethical obligation of healthcare providers to ensure that patients are adequately informed before undergoing treatment. Since this is a fundamental principle that applies to all healthcare practitioners involved in patient care and treatment, it is accurate to conclude that all these professionals are likely to utilize expressed consent in their practice.