Group Therapy Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. The medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able decide the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can be able to treat their patients, they must be given the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful requirement where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. Once this information is received patients must offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of care can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the capabilities to fully understand their options in terms of treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other instances patients may not be able to communicate their decisions to the health care professionals. When this occurs patients are said to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious are unable to make decisions on their alone, and external parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Group Therapy Consent Form
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records However, they should also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or can fully comprehend the particulars of the case and can get direct answers to any questions that arise.