British Council Under 18 Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed choices about their health. Medical treatments can be invasive, so patients should be able decide from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can administer treatments to patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement in which patients are given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. Once this information is received, the patient must offer the physician consent to treat before any form or treatment can be given. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other cases patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health professionals. When this occurs patients are said to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court-appointed representative, in this case, can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for example are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. People who are not conscious are unable to make decisions on their alone, and external parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an British Council Under 18 Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, as well as their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated of refusing treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be detailed in documentation, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. So, he she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any queries that might have arisen.