Alberta Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Medical treatments can be sensitive, so patients must be able decide the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must be given the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition under which a patient has been informed of his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the treating physician. Once this information is received, the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances the patients aren’t equipped with the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other cases patients may not be able to communicate their decisions to the health workers. In such situations the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. The family member, or court appointed representative could then be able to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, as an example they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Alberta Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to be discussed with the patient. So, he will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any queries that might be arising.