Bronchoscopy Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Treatments for medical conditions can be sensitive, so patients must be able, in the end, to decide the risks that are known to be present as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to provide treatment to patients they have to obtain the process of informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement where a patient is informed of his or her physical state and the treatment suggested by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of treatment can be given. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances the patients aren’t equipped with the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In some instances patients might not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health workers. In these situations it is believed that the patient to lack the necessary decision making capacity. Family members or a court appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly can’t make decisions on independent of themselves, so outsiders require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Bronchoscopy Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be documented in a written document however, they must have a discussion with the patient. In this way, he or she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any concerns that might arise.