Biobank Consent Form – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their health. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able to ultimately determine according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are allowed to provide treatment to patients they have to obtain the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement that requires that a patient be provided with detailed information about the condition of their body and the treatment recommended by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form or treatment can be provided. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the capacity to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks and benefits that come with each. In some instances, patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health workers. If this happens the patient is said not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not having the capacity for decision-making. People who are not conscious can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Biobank Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with accepting no treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation however, they must have a discussion with the patient. In this way, he or can be fully aware of what is happening and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.