Defining the difference between informed consent (passive) and patient sovereignty (active control)
The difference between the concept of informed consent, which can be characterized as a more passive acceptance of terms, and patient sovereignty, characterized as active control, lies primarily in the degree of direct authority and demonstrable technical capability an individual holds over their data, identity, and decision-making process. While the provided sources do not explicitly use the parenthetical labels "passive" and "active control" to contrast the two terms, a detailed examination of the principles of informed consent and autonomy/control within the context of decentralized identity and healthcare Artificial Intelligence (AI) reveals a clear functional distinction. Informed Consent (Passive Acceptance) Informed consent is described in the context of healthcare ethics as a foundational principle emphasizing a patient’s right to make informed decisions about their own care. It centers on the patient being fully aware and voluntarily agreeing to pr...