What does the term 'waiver' refer to in informed consent law?

• A. The patient’s voluntary and deliberate giving up of the right to informed consent
• B. A policy by the hospital overrides consent
• C. The physician can override patient decision unilaterally
• D. The patient signs a liability waiver in advance

Answer: (A)

Waiver refers to the patient deliberately giving up the right to be informed and to decide about a medical intervention. It centers on the patient’s autonomy: they choose to proceed or to relinquish the usual informed-consent protections.

This is not about a hospital policy that overrides consent, nor about a physician unilaterally deciding for the patient. Those describe mechanisms to bypass or bypassed consent in practice, which undermines autonomy. It also isn’t a liability waiver, which would address legal claims rather than the patient’s right to be informed and to consent.