National Poll Finds Majority Support for Informed Consent and Medical Choice
A new national poll conducted by John Zogby Strategies provides insight into how American voters view issues related to informed consent, medical decision making, and transparency in health policy.
The survey was commissioned by the Brownstone Institute and the Health Freedom Defense Fund and conducted February 25 to February 26, 2026. The poll included 1,000 likely voters from across the United States with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. Respondents represented a broad political spectrum with 37 percent identifying as Republican, 36 percent as Democrat, and 27 percent as Independent.
The results indicate strong bipartisan support for informed consent, medical decision making rights, and greater transparency in health policy.
Source:
https://www.johnzogbystrategies.com
Summary of findings:
https://brownstone.org/articles/zogby-poll-medical-freedom
Strong Support for Informed Consent and Medical Choice
One of the most notable findings from the survey is the level of agreement among voters that individuals should have the right to make their own medical decisions.
According to the poll:
• 91 percent agreed that every individual has the right to informed consent for prescription medications, vaccinations, and other medical interventions.
• 88 percent agreed that doctors should be able to discuss vaccine concerns openly without fear of backlash from medical boards.
• 87 percent agreed that the right to make personal medical decisions is a basic human right that should be protected by law.
• 84 percent supported legislation requiring pharmaceutical companies to face the same product liability standards as other industries.
• 80 percent agreed that adults have the right to refuse vaccines for themselves.
• 69 percent supported additional vaccine safety research conducted by federal health agencies.
• 66 percent agreed that adults should be able to refuse vaccines for their children or dependents.
• 55 percent agreed that parents should have the ability to opt their children out of school vaccine mandates.
Researchers noted that support for individual medical decision making remained strong across political affiliations and demographic groups.
Support for Transparency and Accountability
In addition to questions about medical choice, the survey examined attitudes toward transparency and accountability in health policy.
For example:
• 83 percent supported legislation requiring full transparency and public access to vaccine safety data, including access to raw clinical trial data.
• 78 percent supported investigating the health effects of certain compounds used in medical products, including thimerosal, aluminum, polyethylene glycol, and formaldehyde.
• 86 percent supported clearer labeling of ultra processed foods to highlight potential health risks.
These results suggest that voters place significant importance on transparency, accountability, and access to information in matters affecting health and safety.
Reflections on Recent Public Health Policie
The survey also asked respondents to reflect on public health policies implemented during the COVID 19 pandemic.
• 62 percent agreed that COVID 19 lockdowns and restrictions resulted in excessive damage to American society.
• 32 percent disagreed with that statement.
These responses highlight ongoing national discussions about how governments balance public health measures with economic, educational, and social impacts.
What the Poll Reveals About Public Opinion
Polling analysts noted that such strong agreement across multiple issues is relatively uncommon in national surveys. The results suggest that voters across political affiliations share concerns about transparency, patient rights, and access to accurate information when making medical decisions.
Support was strongest when questions involved the medical decisions of adults. When questions involved decisions affecting children or institutional policies such as school mandates, support remained at majority levels but was somewhat lower.
Overall, the poll indicates that voters place a high value on informed consent, transparency in health information, and the ability to participate in decisions affecting their health and the health of their families.
This Matters for Policy Discussions
Public opinion research plays an important role in shaping policy discussions. Understanding how voters view issues related to medical ethics, transparency, and patient rights can help inform legislative and public health conversations.
Informed Policy Advocates works to advance informed consent, medical consumer protections, and civil rights through education, policy research, and legislative advocacy in California.
As debates around health policy continue, research like this poll provides useful insight into how Americans think about medical decision making and the role of transparency and accountability in the health care system.
To learn more about Informed Policy Advocates and ongoing work to support informed consent and civil rights protections in California, visit: