Preoperative Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed choices about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are allowed to treat patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition that requires that a patient be informed of his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge. After receiving this information patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is offered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances, patients do not possess the capacity to comprehend the options for treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances patients might not be able communicate their decision to health care professionals. In these situations patients are said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, can take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance could be classified as lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Preoperative Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated of refusing treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be documented in a written document They must also been discussed by the patient. This way, he she will fully understand all the details of the scenario and receive direct responses to any questions that may be arising.
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