Contract Theory in informed consent posits which of the following?

• A. It asserts equal liberties for all, including equal consent for all.
• B. It allows overriding consent during emergencies.
• C. It endorses deception for societal benefit.
• D. It rejects consent as a moral requirement.

Answer: (A)

Contract theory in informed consent emphasizes consent as a voluntary, mutual agreement among equals, grounded in each person’s autonomous liberty. It holds that everyone has the same basic rights to freedom and self-determination, so medical decisions should be made only with the informed, uncoerced agreement of all parties involved. Under this view, respecting autonomy means ensuring that each person has an equal opportunity to consent (or refuse) without domination or manipulation, and that information is provided so that consent truly reflects an informed choice. This is why the best answer highlights equal liberties for all and equal consent as a fundamental aspect of the framework.

Deviations from this idea don’t fit contract theory: overriding consent in emergencies is not the central claim—emergency practice may involve pragmatic allowances, but the principle remains that autonomy and voluntary agreement are primary. Deception would violate the respect for autonomy that contract theory requires, since truth-tful information is essential for a genuine contract. Finally, rejecting consent as a moral requirement contradicts the very notion of consent as a voluntary, rights-respecting agreement among equals.