A consent form, also known as an informed consent form, is a legal document that explains the risks and benefits of a particular treatment, procedure or research study. For those who find the term "consent form" too formal or intimidating, there are other synonyms that can be used to describe this important piece of documentation. These include authorization form, approval form, waiver form, release form or agreement form. Regardless of the term used, the purpose of the form remains the same: to ensure that those who are agreeing to a particular course of action do so with full knowledge of the potential risks and consequences.