Appendectomy Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine according to the known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can be able to treat their patients, they must receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the acting physician. After receiving this information patients must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of care is administered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances the patients aren’t equipped with the knowledge to fully comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each. In some instances patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health care professionals. When this occurs the patient is considered not to possess the proper decision making capacity. A family member or court-appointed representative will then be permitted to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for example are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their independently, and other people are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Appendectomy Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards of refusing treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or she will fully understand what is happening and get straight answers to any queries that might be arising.