{"id":30444,"date":"2026-08-17T07:16:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T07:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=30444"},"modified":"2026-08-17T07:29:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T07:29:38","slug":"the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"h-introduction\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Informed consent lies at the heart of the modern doctor\u2013patient relationship and represents a fundamental transformation in medical jurisprudence. Historically, medical practice was largely paternalistic, with physicians making decisions on behalf of patients on the assumption that the doctor knew what was best. Modern law and medical ethics, however, increasingly recognise the patient\u2019s autonomy and right to make informed decisions concerning their own body and healthcare.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Historical_Foundations_From_Battery_to_Patient_Autonomy\" >Historical Foundations: From Battery to Patient Autonomy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Evolution_of_Disclosure_Standards_Canterbury_to_Montgomery\" >Evolution of Disclosure Standards: Canterbury to Montgomery<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#The_Reasonable_Patient_Standard_Canterbury_v_Spence_1972\" >The Reasonable Patient Standard: Canterbury v. Spence (1972)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#The_Patient-Centred_Approach_Montgomery_v_Lanarkshire_Health_Board_2015\" >The Patient-Centred Approach: Montgomery v. Lanarkshire Health Board (2015)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#The_Indian_Landscape_Constitutional_Basis_and_Judicial_Development\" >The Indian Landscape: Constitutional Basis and Judicial Development<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Legal_and_Professional_Framework\" >Legal and Professional Framework<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#DrSamira_Kohli_v_Dr_Prabha_Manchanda_2008\" >DrSamira Kohli v. Dr. Prabha Manchanda (2008)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Comparative_Analysis_and_Contemporary_Challenges\" >Comparative Analysis and Contemporary Challenges<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Digital_Healthcare_and_Telemedicine\" >Digital Healthcare and Telemedicine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Protection_of_Vulnerable_Research_Participants\" >Protection of Vulnerable Research Participants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#End-of-Life_Decision-Making\" >End-of-Life Decision-Making<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#Conclusion_From_Compliance_to_Partnership\" >Conclusion: From Compliance to Partnership<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Informed consent therefore requires that a competent patient receive adequate information regarding the nature and purpose of a proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and reasonable alternatives, and voluntarily decide whether to undergo it. Consent is consequently not merely a signed document but a continuing process of communication and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Performing a medical intervention without valid consent may constitute an infringement of bodily autonomy and, depending on the circumstances and applicable law, may give rise to civil or criminal liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-historical-foundations-from-battery-to-patient-autonomy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Historical_Foundations_From_Battery_to_Patient_Autonomy\"><\/span>Historical Foundations: From Battery to Patient Autonomy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">unauthorisedThe modern legal concept of informed consent developed significantly in early twentieth-century American jurisprudence. In <em>Schloendorff v. Society of New York Hospital<\/em> (1914), Justice Benjamin Cardozo articulated the principle that every competent adult has the right to determine what may be done to their own body. An unauthorized medical intervention could therefore constitute an unlawful touching and, in appropriate circumstances, amount to battery. The decision became an important foundation for the modern doctrine of bodily autonomy and patient self-determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The importance of voluntary consent was reinforced internationally following the unethical medical experiments conducted during the Second World War. The Nuremberg Code (1947) established voluntary consent as an essential requirement for human experimentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Subsequently, instruments such as the Declaration of Helsinki and the Belmont Report further developed principles of informed consent, respect for persons, risk\u2013benefit assessment, and protection of research participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These developments strengthened the principle that individuals should receive appropriate information, be free from coercion or undue influence, and retain the right to refuse or withdraw from participation in treatment or research, subject to applicable legal and ethical limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-evolution-of-disclosure-standards-canterbury-to-montgomery\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Evolution_of_Disclosure_Standards_Canterbury_to_Montgomery\"><\/span>Evolution of Disclosure Standards: <em>Canterbury<\/em> to <em>Montgomery<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The law governing the extent of information that must be disclosed to patients has evolved from a predominantly professional-centred model toward a more patient-centred approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-the-reasonable-patient-standard-canterbury-v-spence-1972\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Reasonable_Patient_Standard_Canterbury_v_Spence_1972\"><\/span>The Reasonable Patient Standard: <em>Canterbury v. Spence<\/em> (1972)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Canterbury v. Spence<\/em> (1972), a United States court significantly influenced the law of informed disclosure by moving away from an exclusively professional standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">emphasisedUnder the traditional approach, the adequacy of disclosure was largely determined by accepted medical practice and professional opinion. <em>Canterbury<\/em> emphasized instead the patient\u2019s right to make an informed choice and required disclosure of risks that a reasonable person in the patient\u2019s position would consider significant in deciding whether to undergo treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision thus reduced the physician\u2019s unilateral control over determining what information was relevant to the patient\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-the-patient-centred-approach-montgomery-v-lanarkshire-health-board-2015\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Patient-Centred_Approach_Montgomery_v_Lanarkshire_Health_Board_2015\"><\/span>The Patient-Centred Approach: <em>Montgomery v. Lanarkshire Health Board<\/em> (2015)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A comparable development occurred in the United Kingdom in <em>Montgomery v. Lanarkshire Health Board<\/em> (2015). The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom rejected an approach based solely on professional medical opinion, placing patient autonomy at the forefront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Court held that doctors must exercise reasonable care to ensure patients are informed of material risks, as well as reasonable alternative or variant treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A risk is material if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A reasonable person in the patient\u2019s circumstances would likely attach significance to it; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The doctor knows\u2014or reasonably ought to know\u2014that the specific patient would attach significance to it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Montgomery<\/em> thus represents a decisive shift from professional paternalism toward meaningful patient participation in healthcare decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-the-indian-landscape-constitutional-basis-and-judicial-development\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Indian_Landscape_Constitutional_Basis_and_Judicial_Development\"><\/span>The Indian Landscape: Constitutional Basis and Judicial Development<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In India, informed consent is closely connected with the constitutional protection of life and personal liberty under <strong>Article 21 of the Constitution of India<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Judicial interpretation of Article 21 has expanded the concept of personal liberty to encompass dignity, bodily integrity, and aspects of individual autonomy. Within this constitutional framework, informed consent has acquired increasing importance in medical treatment and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-legal-and-professional-framework\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal_and_Professional_Framework\"><\/span>Legal and Professional Framework<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2019,The professional conduct of registered medical practitioners is governed by the regulatory framework established under the <strong>National Medical Commission Act, 2019<\/strong> and applicable professional-ethical regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2019,In addition, the <strong>Consumer Protection Act, 2019<\/strong> provides a mechanism through which patients may seek redressal in appropriate cases involving deficiency in medical services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Failure to obtain valid consent may, depending on the facts and resulting injury, become relevant to a claim of medical negligence or deficiency in service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-drsamira-kohli-v-dr-prabha-manchanda-2008\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DrSamira_Kohli_v_Dr_Prabha_Manchanda_2008\"><\/span>DrSamira Kohli v. Dr. Prabha Manchanda (2008)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DrA landmark Indian decision on informed consent is <em>Samira Kohli v. Dr. Prabha Manchanda<\/em> (2008). The patient had consented to a diagnostic procedure but, while under anaesthesia, underwent a more extensive surgical intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Supreme Court of India emphasised several important principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Real and voluntary consent:<\/strong> Consent must be genuine, voluntary, and based on adequate information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Specific consent:<\/strong> Consent given for one diagnostic or therapeutic procedure does not ordinarily authorise a substantially different or additional procedure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Emergency exception:<\/strong> An additional intervention may be justified without separate consent where an immediate and serious threat to life or health makes such intervention necessary and obtaining further consent is impracticable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adequate disclosure:<\/strong> The patient should receive sufficient information regarding the nature and purpose of the proposed treatment, its significant risks, and available alternatives to enable an informed decision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Court did not adopt the <em>Canterbury<\/em> approach in its entirety. Instead, it emphasised a practical doctrine of \u201creal consent&#8221;, requiring disclosure of information necessary for a meaningful decision without imposing an unrealistic obligation to disclose every remote or insignificant possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The absence of informed consent may also become relevant to a medical-negligence claim where the patient suffers injury and the failure to disclose material information forms part of the alleged breach of duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-comparative-analysis-and-contemporary-challenges\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparative_Analysis_and_Contemporary_Challenges\"><\/span>Comparative Analysis and Contemporary Challenges<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contemporary medical law in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States has increasingly moved toward patient-centred decision-making, emphasising autonomy, material risks, reasonable alternatives, and individualised disclosure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India has likewise recognised patient autonomy but has generally adopted a more pragmatic approach that seeks to balance individual rights with the realities of medical practice, professional judgement, emergencies, and healthcare limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern healthcare has also created new challenges for the doctrine of informed consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-digital-healthcare-and-telemedicine\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Digital_Healthcare_and_Telemedicine\"><\/span>Digital Healthcare and Telemedicine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The expansion of telemedicine has required traditional consent principles to be adapted to remote consultations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020<\/strong>, recognise the need for appropriate consent and documentation in telemedicine practice, thereby reinforcing the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability even when the doctor and patient are not physically present in the same location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-protection-of-vulnerable-research-participants\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protection_of_Vulnerable_Research_Participants\"><\/span>Protection of Vulnerable Research Participants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019,<\/strong> provide safeguards for participants in clinical research and, in specified circumstances, require enhanced documentation and recording of the informed-consent process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These safeguards seek to minimise coercion, exploitation, and misunderstanding and to strengthen the evidentiary record of consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-end-of-life-decision-making\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"End-of-Life_Decision-Making\"><\/span>End-of-Life Decision-Making<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Common Cause v. Union of India<\/em> (2018), the Supreme Court recognised the legal significance of advance directives, commonly referred to as \u201cliving wills&#8221;, within the framework governing end-of-life medical decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This development reflects the broader principle that autonomy may include the ability to communicate healthcare preferences in advance, subject to the legal safeguards established by the Court and applicable law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-conclusion-from-compliance-to-partnership\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_From_Compliance_to_Partnership\"><\/span>Conclusion: From Compliance to Partnership<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Informed consent should never be reduced to a signature on a consent form. It is fundamentally a process through which patients receive meaningful information, understand their choices, ask questions, and voluntarily participate in decisions concerning their bodies and health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The historical movement from medical paternalism to patient autonomy reflects a broader transformation in medical jurisprudence\u2014from physician authority toward shared decision-making and respect for human dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Properly implemented, informed consent strengthens trust, protects bodily integrity, improves communication, and transforms the doctor\u2013patient relationship from one based on authority and compliance into a partnership founded on autonomy, transparency, dignity, and mutual respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-related-links yoast-seo-related-links\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-standard-of-care-a-comprehensive-juridical-analysis-of-the-bolam-principle\/\">The Standard of Care: A Comprehensive Juridical Analysis of the Bolam Principle<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/patient-confidentiality-in-the-digital-age-a-comparative-analysis-of-legal-frameworks-in-india-and-the-global-landscape\/\">Patient Confidentiality in the Digital Age: A Comparative Analysis of Legal Frameworks in India and the Global Landscape<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/consumer-protection-act-medical-negligence-india-analysis\/\">Medical Negligence under the Consumer Protection Act: A Promise Betrayed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/injury-an-actionable-wrong-is-defined-as-harm-illegally-caused-vs-act-of-a-licensed-medical-practitioner-a-debate\/\">Injury, an actionable wrong, is defined as harm illegally caused vs. an act of a licensed medical practitioner: A debate<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/professional-misconduct-in-healthcare-law\/\">Professional misconduct in healthcare law<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Informed consent lies at the heart of the modern doctor\u2013patient relationship and represents a fundamental transformation in medical jurisprudence. Historically, medical practice was largely paternalistic, with physicians making decisions on behalf of patients on the assumption that the doctor knew what was best. Modern law and medical ethics, however, increasingly recognise the patient\u2019s autonomy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[87],"tags":[921],"class_list":["post-30444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-medico-legal","tag-medico-legal"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.8 (Yoast SEO v28.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy - Legal Service India - Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore informed consent in medical law, patient autonomy, Article 21, medical negligence and landmark cases including Samira Kohli and Montgomery.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore informed consent in medical law, patient autonomy, Article 21, medical negligence and landmark cases including Samira Kohli and Montgomery.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Legal Service India - Articles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-17T07:16:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-17T07:29:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Md. Imran Wahab\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@legalserviceind\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@legalserviceind\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Md. Imran Wahab\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Md. Imran Wahab\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/23f17916b2032842e5ccd9cb51dfc156\"},\"headline\":\"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-17T07:16:30+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-17T07:29:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1381,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"medico legal\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Medico Legal\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy - Legal Service India - Articles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-17T07:16:30+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-17T07:29:38+00:00\",\"description\":\"Explore informed consent in medical law, patient autonomy, Article 21, medical negligence and landmark cases including Samira Kohli and Montgomery.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Medico Legal > Informed Consent in India: Patient Rights, Medical Negligence and Landmark Judgments\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/\",\"name\":\"Legal Service India - Law Articles\",\"description\":\"Legal Service India - Law Article Directory is the oldest in India since 2000, with thousands of article written by lawyers, law Students and Scholars on all branches of law\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Legal Service India\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/logo-circle-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/logo-circle-1.png\",\"width\":105,\"height\":95,\"caption\":\"Legal Service India\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/legalservicesind\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/legalserviceind\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@LegalServiceIndia-lsi\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/23f17916b2032842e5ccd9cb51dfc156\",\"name\":\"Md. Imran Wahab\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/avatars\\\/49\\\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/avatars\\\/49\\\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/avatars\\\/49\\\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Md. Imran Wahab\"},\"description\":\"\ud83d\udc6e Md. Imran Wahab, IPS Inspector General of Police (IGP), Provisioning, West Bengal Md. Imran Wahab is a distinguished Indian Police Service officer with extensive experience in law enforcement, administration, prison management, and public service. He has held several senior positions in the West Bengal Police, Kolkata Police, and Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, and served as Special IG and IGP of Correctional Services, West Bengal. \ud83c\udf93 Academic Excellence: He holds degrees in Science, Arts, Law, and Business Administration, along with multiple postgraduate diplomas in specialised fields, including Human Rights, Psychology, Public Administration, and Disaster Management. He has also undergone specialised training at SVPNPA, IIM Ahmedabad, and in Singapore. \ud83d\udcda Author &amp; Research Scholar: He has authored Police Investigation &amp; Allied Matters and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Evolving Trends and Innovations. With over 1,000 articles to his credit, his research and writings cover law, policing, criminal justice, prison administration, politics, and international affairs. His contributions have appeared in reputed police and research journals. \ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f Election Management &amp; Leadership: As an Election Commission of India observer, he has contributed to election management across several Indian states. He has also chaired and served on recruitment boards for Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police. His professional interests span law, governance, correctional administration, international affairs, and management, reflecting a sustained commitment to institutional development, knowledge sharing, and public service.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/author\\\/md-imranwahab\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy - Legal Service India - Articles","description":"Explore informed consent in medical law, patient autonomy, Article 21, medical negligence and landmark cases including Samira Kohli and Montgomery.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy","og_description":"Explore informed consent in medical law, patient autonomy, Article 21, medical negligence and landmark cases including Samira Kohli and Montgomery.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/","og_site_name":"Legal Service India - Articles","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind","article_published_time":"2026-08-17T07:16:30+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-17T07:29:38+00:00","author":"Md. Imran Wahab","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@legalserviceind","twitter_site":"@legalserviceind","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Md. Imran Wahab","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/"},"author":{"name":"Md. Imran Wahab","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/person\/23f17916b2032842e5ccd9cb51dfc156"},"headline":"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy","datePublished":"2026-08-17T07:16:30+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-17T07:29:38+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/"},"wordCount":1381,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#organization"},"keywords":["medico legal"],"articleSection":["Medico Legal"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/","name":"The Law of Informed Consent: From Medical Paternalism To Patient Autonomy - Legal Service India - Articles","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-08-17T07:16:30+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-17T07:29:38+00:00","description":"Explore informed consent in medical law, patient autonomy, Article 21, medical negligence and landmark cases including Samira Kohli and Montgomery.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/the-law-of-informed-consent-from-medical-paternalism-to-patient-autonomy-2\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Medico Legal > Informed Consent in India: Patient Rights, Medical Negligence and Landmark Judgments"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/","name":"Legal Service India - Law Articles","description":"Legal Service India - Law Article Directory is the oldest in India since 2000, with thousands of article written by lawyers, law Students and Scholars on all branches of law","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#organization","name":"Legal Service India","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logo-circle-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logo-circle-1.png","width":105,"height":95,"caption":"Legal Service India"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind","https:\/\/x.com\/legalserviceind","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LegalServiceIndia-lsi"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/#\/schema\/person\/23f17916b2032842e5ccd9cb51dfc156","name":"Md. Imran Wahab","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/49\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/49\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/49\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg","caption":"Md. Imran Wahab"},"description":"\ud83d\udc6e Md. Imran Wahab, IPS Inspector General of Police (IGP), Provisioning, West Bengal Md. Imran Wahab is a distinguished Indian Police Service officer with extensive experience in law enforcement, administration, prison management, and public service. He has held several senior positions in the West Bengal Police, Kolkata Police, and Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, and served as Special IG and IGP of Correctional Services, West Bengal. \ud83c\udf93 Academic Excellence: He holds degrees in Science, Arts, Law, and Business Administration, along with multiple postgraduate diplomas in specialised fields, including Human Rights, Psychology, Public Administration, and Disaster Management. He has also undergone specialised training at SVPNPA, IIM Ahmedabad, and in Singapore. \ud83d\udcda Author &amp; Research Scholar: He has authored Police Investigation &amp; Allied Matters and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Evolving Trends and Innovations. With over 1,000 articles to his credit, his research and writings cover law, policing, criminal justice, prison administration, politics, and international affairs. His contributions have appeared in reputed police and research journals. \ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f Election Management &amp; Leadership: As an Election Commission of India observer, he has contributed to election management across several Indian states. He has also chaired and served on recruitment boards for Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police. His professional interests span law, governance, correctional administration, international affairs, and management, reflecting a sustained commitment to institutional development, knowledge sharing, and public service.","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/author\/md-imranwahab\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30444\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}