What legal term requires a physician to obtain a patient's agreement for treatment?

The term that requires a physician to obtain a patient's agreement for treatment is informed consent. Informed consent is a fundamental principle in medical ethics and law that ensures that patients are provided with adequate information regarding their diagnosis, treatment options, risks, benefits, and alternatives. This process empowers patients to make knowledgeable decisions about their healthcare based on their personal values and preferences.

Informed consent is crucial because it respects the patient's right to make autonomous choices about their own body and medical treatment. This legal requirement protects both the patient’s autonomy and the healthcare provider, establishing that treatment proceeds only with the patient’s voluntary agreement after they have received sufficient information to understand the necessary aspects of their care.

The other options, while relevant to healthcare and law, do not specifically address the requirement for obtaining consent. Tort law refers to civil wrongs that cause harm or loss, patient autonomy emphasizes the right of patients to make informed choices about their medical care, and legal liability involves the responsibilities or obligations healthcare providers face in their practice. None of these terms directly encompass the process of acquiring a patient's informed agreement for treatment as effectively as informed consent does.