Blank Consent Form Template – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine in light of known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can operate on patients, they need to receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition where a patient is provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment is offered. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients may not have the ability to comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other instances patients might not be able to communicate their decision to health professionals. In such situations the patient is considered not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court-appointed representative in this case, can take over informed consent.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. Those who are unconscious clearly can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Blank Consent Form Template
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the acting physician
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with refusing any treatment at all
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation however, they must been discussed by the patient. This way, he or can fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will be able to get immediate answers to any queries that might be arising.