Question

Which of the following statements about Consent is "not true"?

• A. Consent can only be valid if it is given by a person who is sane and has attained maturity, i.e. 18 years of age
• B. For sterilization of a married person, consent of both spouses, i.e. husband and wife, is required
• C. For artificial insemination, consent of the patient alone is required
• D. In an emergency situation, if no near relative is available, doctors can perform a procedure/surgery necessary to save life even without consent, provided that the procedure is certified to be essential to save the patient's life, by two doctors

Hint:

Artificial insemination affects the child's legal status, so both spouses must consent.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

This question asks us to find the one statement about medical consent that is false, while the other three are accepted rules of consent in medical practice.

1. Consent needs a sane adult who has reached 18 years: This is a correct and standard rule. Valid consent must come from a person of sound mind who has attained the age of majority, which is 18 years in India. This statement is true, so it is not the answer.
2. Sterilization of a married person needs consent of both husband and wife: This has traditionally been taught as good practice for sterilization procedures, since the decision affects the couple and future family planning. This statement is treated as true here, so it is not the answer.
3. For artificial insemination, consent of the patient alone is required: This is false. Artificial insemination affects the legitimacy and legal status of the child that may be born, and the husband's rights and responsibilities are tied to that child. Because of this, consent of both husband and wife is required, not the patient alone. This statement does not hold up, which makes it the false one.
4. In an emergency, with no relative available, two doctors can certify and proceed without consent to save life: This is a correct and accepted rule, allowing doctors to act in the patient's best interest when getting consent is not possible and delay would risk life. This statement is true, so it is not the answer.

The statement that is not true is the one about artificial insemination needing only the patient's consent, since it actually requires consent from both spouses.

Let's summarize:

• Valid consent requires a sane adult of at least 18 years.
• Artificial insemination needs consent of both husband and wife because it affects the legal status of the future child, not the patient alone.
• Life saving emergency procedures without consent are allowed when two doctors certify necessity and no relative is available.

So the false statement, and the correct answer, is option 3.