Dialysis Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their health. The medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide, based on known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel can be able to treat their patients, they must receive what is known as informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement under which a patient has been provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the treating physician. After receiving this information the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be given. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each one. In other circumstances, patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health professionals. If this happens the patient is considered not to have adequate decision making capacity. A family member or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Dialysis Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this procedure
Alternative treatments are available, along with their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated of refusing treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation however, they must discuss the situation with patients. This way, he or will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and receive direct responses to any concerns that might be arising.