As the debate over informed consent for COVID-19 vaccine continues, mid-day, in its continuing reportage of the issue, has reached out to legal experts to weigh in on the matter. As the first phase of the vaccination drive on January 16 approaches, they, too, acknowledged the need for such consent and explained the legal aspects of keeping frontline warriors informed. 

Medico-socio-legal activist Dr Dinesh B Thakare told mid-day that ‘informed consent’ is a basic human right. Article 3 of UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights in clause 2 says, “The interests and welfare of the individual should have priority over the sole interest of science or society.”