Which statement best describes the risk of not obtaining appropriate consent?

• A. It can lead to legal risk
• B. It has no consequences
• C. It reduces patient safety risk
• D. It improves trust

Answer: (A)

Not obtaining appropriate consent breaches patient autonomy and the legal requirement to obtain informed consent before treatment. The primary risk is legal: performing care without proper consent can expose the clinician to liability for battery or negligence, as well as regulatory and civil actions. Ethically, it undermines trust and the patient’s rights, and it can create safety concerns if the patient isn’t prepared for what is done. So, the statement that best describes the risk is that it can lead to legal risk. The other options don’t fit: there are consequences to skipping consent, it does not reduce safety risk, and it does not improve trust.