Consent Form Example For Survey – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine, based on known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to provide treatment to patients they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement in which patients are provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the skills to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each. In other circumstances patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health care professionals. Under these circumstances the patient is said not to possess the proper decision making capacity. Family members or a court appointed representative then, is allowed to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for example are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on their own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form Example For Survey
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the physician in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records, but they must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the particulars of the case and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.