Parents Consent Form – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can administer treatments to patients, they must receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received, the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care can be administered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients may not have the knowledge to fully comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other cases patients might not be able to effectively communicate their decision to health professionals. If this happens it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court appointed representative could then be able to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example could be classified as not having the capacity for decision-making. The patients who are unconscious can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Parents Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment at all
Not only must these items be documented, but they must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any concerns that might be arising.