Assessment Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able to determine, based on known risks that their bodies should be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they must obtain the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition under which a patient is informed of the condition of their body and the treatment suggested by the acting physician. After receiving this information, the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of treatment can be offered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients may not have the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each. In other cases patients may not be able to communicate their decisions to the health professionals. In such situations it is believed that the patient to lack the necessary decision making capacity. The family member, or court-appointed representative could then be able to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance they could be judged as not possessing decision making capacity. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on their independently, and other people are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Assessment Consent Form
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the acting physician
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented They must also have a discussion with the patient. In this way, he or will be able to comprehend what is happening and can get direct answers to any questions that arise.