Biopsy Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Medical treatments can be invasive, so patients should be able to ultimately determine from the facts about risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to provide treatment to patients they must receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition under which a patient is informed of the condition of their body and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat before any form or treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients may not have the knowledge to fully comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each one. In some instances patients might not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health workers. If this happens the patient is said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. A family member or court-appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. The ones who are asleep clearly can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Biopsy Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment that is recommended by the acting physician
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments available, along with their benefits and risks
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment at all
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he is able to fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will receive immediate responses to any questions that may be arising.