Immunotherapy Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their health. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to treat patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement under which a patient has been provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received the patient is required to offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be provided. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the benefits and risks associated with each. In other circumstances patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health care professionals. Under these circumstances, the patient is said to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their independently, and other people must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Immunotherapy Consent Form
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the acting physician
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are available, along with their risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages of refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented They must also have a discussion with the patient. So, he can be fully aware of the particulars of the case and receive direct responses to any questions that arise.