Affidavit Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite risky, therefore patients should be able decide according to the 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 have to obtain the process of informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement under which a patient has been provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of care can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients don’t have the skills to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each. In other circumstances patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health care professionals. When this occurs it is believed that the patient not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court-appointed representative can perform informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example – may be determined as not having the capacity to make decisions. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Affidavit Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician who is acting
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment at all
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation But they also need to been discussed by the patient. This way, he can be fully aware of all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any concerns that might arise.