Patient Information Sheet And Informed Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed choices about their health. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able to ultimately determine according to the known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they have to obtain the process of informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received, the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of care is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients don’t have the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options , as well as the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other cases patients may not be able to explain their decisions to health workers. When this occurs the patient is said not to have adequate decision making capacity. The family member, or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity for decision-making. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Patient Information Sheet And Informed Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the acting physician
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages of refusing treatment at all
Not only should these details be detailed in documentation, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and get straight answers to any questions that may be arising.