The right to decide what happens to one's body is known as what?

Patient autonomy refers to an individual's right to make decisions about their own body and healthcare. This concept emphasizes the importance of respect for a patient's choices and preferences regarding their treatment. It acknowledges that patients have the right to control what happens to them, including the ability to accept or refuse medical interventions.

The significance of patient autonomy lies in its foundational role in ethical medical practice. Healthcare providers must respect patients' decisions, which can be informed by their values, beliefs, and personal circumstances. This principle is crucial in fostering trust between patients and healthcare professionals and ensuring that care is person-centered.

While informed consent, implied consent, and express consent are all related concepts that deal with the process of gaining patient permission or agreement for treatment, they do not fully capture the broader principle of autonomy. Informed consent involves providing patients with enough information to make a knowledgeable decision, implied consent suggests agreement through actions rather than verbal acknowledgment, and express consent refers to a clear and definitive agreement from the patient. However, patient autonomy encompasses these concepts while also highlighting the patient's right to make decisions about their own healthcare path.