Which element of informed consent directly addresses a client agreeing to participate without coercion?

• A. Details of services.
• B. Voluntary agreement.
• C. Risks and benefits.
• D. Signature.

Answer: (B)

Voluntariness in informed consent is about the client making a free choice to participate, without pressure, threats, or manipulation. This direct focus on the absence of coercion is what makes the agreement truly voluntary. The other elements—providing details of services, outlining risks and benefits, and obtaining a signature—support informed decision-making and serve as documentation, but they don’t by themselves guarantee that the client’s consent was given freely. A client can be fully informed and sign a form yet still feel pressured; that would undermine autonomy and invalidate the consent.