Parental Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide the risks that are known to be present and the way their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to treat patients, they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement under which a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient has to give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients may not have the ability to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each. In other instances patients might not be able to communicate their choices to health care professionals. If this happens it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, could then be able to perform informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example could be classified as not able to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Parental Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the acting physician
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
Not only must these items be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to be discussed with the patient. This way, he will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and can get direct answers to any questions that may be arising.