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Voluntariness Principle

Meaning

The voluntariness principle is the fundamental ethical mandate that all participation in health-related programs, clinical research, or medical treatment must be the result of a free, uncoerced choice made by an individual with the capacity to decide. In the realm of hormonal health, this means a patient must feel completely unpressured when deciding whether to undergo diagnostic testing or commence a personalized hormone regimen. Upholding this principle is paramount to respecting patient autonomy and maintaining the integrity of the clinical relationship.