Biometric Consent Form Template – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be risky, therefore patients should be able to determine according to the known risks that their bodies should be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they have to obtain what is known as informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement in which patients are provided with specific information regarding his or her physical health and the recommended treatment by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient has to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment is given. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each. In other situations patients might not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health care professionals. In such situations patients are said to not possess adequate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court appointed representative will then be permitted to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Biometric Consent Form Template
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and the benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with accepting no treatment at all
Not only must these items be recorded in the patient’s medical records, but they must also be discussed with the patient. So, he she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any issues that may have arisen.