[Informed consent inspired by Slow Medicine.]

The current practice of informed consent is often reduced to a bureaucratic and defensive formality, far removed from its original purpose. For the Slow Medicine movement, consent must instead reflect three core values: it must be uncluttered, that is, personalised and not overloaded; respectful of the patient's autonomy and pace; and fair, capable of bridging cultural and linguistic inequalities to ensure equitable understanding. Overcoming this 'bureaucratic burden' is essential to transforming a signed form into a genuine relationship of trust and active participation in care.