Babysitting Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make educated decisions about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they have to obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement under which a patient is provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the treatment recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information, the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form of care is offered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the capabilities to fully understand their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each. In other cases patients may not be able to explain their decisions to health care professionals. In such situations the patient is considered to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. The family member, or court appointed representative in this case, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. The ones who are asleep clearly can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Babysitting Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be detailed in documentation however, they must been discussed by the patient. This way, he she will fully understand the particulars of the case and will be able to get immediate answers to any queries that might be arising.