[Consent and information: the context of general medicine, or from mythology to reality]

Informed consent is today an essential element of clinical practice, grounded in the principle of patient self-determination. Its evolution, from the traditional paternalistic model to the recognition of the patient's right to make conscious choices, has been marked by key historical and legal milestones such as the Nuremberg trials, the Tuskegee Study, and, in Italy, the landmark "Massimo" ruling of 1990, later consolidated by Law 219/2017. In General Practice, consent takes on specific features: often implicit, dynamic, and closely linked to the doctor-patient relationship, it goes beyond the mere signing of a form and unfolds throughout the entire care process. Information plays a central role and must be tailored, clear, and proportionate to the patient's level of understanding, while avoiding the pitfalls of excessive "defensive information." In this perspective, informed consent becomes a tool for sharing therapeutic goals and building a decision-making alliance, thereby redefining the very aims of medicine.