Consent To Travel Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. The medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to decide, based on known risks that their bodies should be treated. Thus, before medical personnel can treat patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition that requires that a patient be given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. After receiving this information the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care can be given. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the capacity to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other cases patients might not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health care professionals. In these situations patients are said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. A family member or court-appointed representative will then be permitted to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly are unable to make decisions on their own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Consent To Travel Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented in a written document, but they must also discuss the situation with patients. This way, he can fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that arise.