Patient Consent Form For Dental Treatment – Everyone should have the ability to make informed choices about their health. Medical treatments can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine according to the known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition where a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge. After receiving this information patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients may not have the skills to comprehend their treatment options and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other cases, patients may not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health workers. In these situations the patient is said to lack the necessary decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court appointed representative can provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Patient Consent Form For Dental Treatment
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages with refusing treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation They must also discuss the situation with patients. This way, he can fully comprehend what is happening and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.