Mindfulness and Informed Consent: Navigating Ethical Complexity Across Contexts
Kevin Berryman, Linda Barclay, Craig Hassed, Jakob Hohwy
Mindfulness August 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-026-02939-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that the evidence for requiring formal informed consent in mindfulness-based interventions is weak, and proposes a dose-sensitive, proportional consent model that calibrates consent procedures to risk and practice intensity, avoiding over-disclosure harms. |
Abstract
Abstract Recent concerns about meditation-related adverse effects (MRAEs) have led to calls for more rigorous informed consent in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). This paper examines whether consent procedures are warranted, and under what circumstances, and of what kind, across the diverse settings in which mindfulness is delivered. Drawing on bioethics and the informed consent literature, we argue that although MBIs may involve some risks, the evidence justifying the case for written, formalized informed consent is weak. In clinical medicine and psychotherapeutic practice, consent practices vary according to risk, permanence, invasiveness, and patient control, often relying on informal processes where risk is minimal. We propose a dose-sensitive model of informed consent that functions on a sliding scale, calibrating the intensity of mindfulness practices to the probability of risk, potential harm, and severity of adverse events. Our proportional approach avoids the harms of over-disclosure—including inefficiency, nocebo effects, and autonomy infringement—while still respecting individuals’ rights and mitigating risk. A context-sensitive, proportional consent model better aligns with ethical norms, individual autonomy, and the empirical evidence on risks of adverse effects from mindfulness practices.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 46
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources PLoS Biology May 4, 2007
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
and 41 more in the library