Which statement best captures Canterbury v. Spence regarding disclosure adequacy?

• A. The adequacy of disclosure should be judged by what the physician finds relevant to decision-making
• B. The adequacy of disclosure should be judged by what the patient finds relevant to decision-making
• C. The hospital’s policy determines adequacy
• D. Adequacy is based on the patient's ability to pay

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that informed consent depends on what information a patient would want to know in order to make a decision about their own care. Canterbury v. Spence established the patient-centered approach: the adequacy of disclosure is judged by what a reasonable person in the patient’s position would consider material to the decision. In other words, the doctor should reveal risks, alternatives, and uncertainties that this patient would deem relevant, shaping the information to the individual’s needs and values.

This emphasis on the patient’s perspective contrasts with physician-centered or policy-based ideas. It’s not about what the hospital policy says or what the physician personally thinks is decision-relevant, and it isn’t about the patient’s ability to pay. The correct view aligns with respecting patient autonomy by ensuring disclosure matches what the patient would find relevant to their own choices.