Basic Consent Form Template – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions about their medical care. The medical procedures can be invasive, so 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 permitted to operate on patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition under which a patient has been informed of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received, the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of care is offered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the ability to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the benefits and risks associated with each. In other cases patients might not be able to convey their preferences to health workers. In these situations the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. A family member or court appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot make decisions on independently, and other people must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Basic Consent Form Template
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any concerns that might have arisen.
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