Consent Form For Physiotherapy Treatment – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. The medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able to ultimately determine the risks that are known to be present and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to treat patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition that requires that a patient be provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical health and the treatment recommended by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be provided. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients may not have the ability to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each. In other circumstances patients might not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health care professionals. If this happens the patient is considered not to possess the proper decision making capacity. The family member, or court appointed representative can take over informed consent.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as not having the capacity for decision-making. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form For Physiotherapy Treatment
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 benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are available, along with their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
The items should not only be documented in a written document, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any queries that might have arisen.