Informed consent or institutional ritual? Ethical challenges in overburdened public hospitals

Informed consent is a foundational doctrine in contemporary bioethics, rooted in respect for patient autonomy, bodily integrity, and the moral legitimacy of clinical intervention. Its modern articulation derives from a series of legal and ethical milestones, including the Nuremberg Code and subsequent frameworks such as the Declaration of Helsinki, which collectively emphasize voluntary participation, comprehension, and the right to refuse treatment. However, the actual operation of these principles in overburdened public hospitals in India reveals a persistent divergence between normative ideals and clinical practice.