In the context of a doctor–patient relationship, informal coercion is a social process where a healthcare profession tries to make a patient adhere to the healthcare system's desired treatment without making use of formal coercion such as involuntary commitment combined with involuntary treatment.
[1]: 19 The patient may be demanded to do what a clinician wants to secure access to goods of monetary value such as housing, money, children, and criminal justice.
[1]: 19 Conditional access to housing is the most common form of inducement in informal coercion, being report by 15–40% of service users.
[1]: 26 A study of informal coercion in housing provision found that 60% of noncompliant service users were excluded from the program.
[1]: 20 Healthcare worker may use inducements such as cigarettes, drinks, or a walk to persuade patients to take medication.