Importance Of Consent Form In Research – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Medical treatments can be quite demanding, and therefore patients should be able decide according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to operate on patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement under which 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 treating physician. After receiving this information, the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is provided. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decision to health workers. If this happens the patient is said to lack the necessary decision making capacity. A family member or court-appointed representative then, is allowed to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Importance Of Consent Form In Research
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The procedure recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, along with their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated of refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be detailed in documentation however, they must discuss the situation with patients. In this way, he or can fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and will receive immediate responses to any queries that might arise.