Assent Form Vs Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their health. Medical treatments can be sensitive, so patients must be able to decide from the facts about risks, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the condition of their body as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information, the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each. In other circumstances patients might not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health care professionals. When this occurs the patient is said to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative in this case, can take over informed consent.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example could be classified as not able to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot take decisions on their independently, and other people are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Assent Form Vs Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the acting physician
The risks and the benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment at all
Not only should these details be documented But they also need to be discussed with the patient. So, he is able to fully comprehend the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any questions that may have arisen.