Free Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Medical treatments can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able decide from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel can provide treatment to patients they need to receive the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement that requires that a patient be given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form or treatment can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other cases patients may not be able communicate their choices to health professionals. If this happens, the patient is said to not possess adequate capacity to make decisions. The family member, or court appointed representative in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on independently, and other people have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Free Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with refusing any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be detailed in documentation however, they must be discussed with the patient. So, he can fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any concerns that might arise.
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