Which term describes a patient's verbal agreement to receive care?

The correct answer, expressed consent, refers to a patient's clear and overt verbal agreement to receive medical treatment after being informed about the procedure or care they will undergo. This type of consent is crucial in emergency care situations as it indicates that the patient understands what care will be provided and agrees to it. Expressed consent can be demonstrated verbally or in writing, and it is typically required before any significant intervention or treatment takes place.

In emergency medical situations, establishing expressed consent ensures that the healthcare provider respects the autonomy of the patient and their right to make informed decisions about their care. This is especially important in outdoor emergency care where patients may be in distress or unable to provide a fully informed decision due to their circumstances.

The other terms do not accurately capture this scenario. Implied consent refers to situations where consent is assumed based on the patient's actions, such as when a patient is unconscious and requires emergency care. Assumed consent is not a commonly used term in medical practice. Informed consent implies that the patient has been fully educated on the risks and benefits of a treatment, which is a broader concept that encompasses expressed consent but doesn’t specifically denote the verbal agreement aspect alone.