Case Report Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Medical treatments can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to operate on patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement that requires that a patient be provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the acting physician. Once this information is received patients must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks and benefits that come with each. In other situations patients might not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health care professionals. In such situations the patient is said not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, could then be able to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Case Report Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The procedure recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with not accepting any treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation, but they must also been discussed by the patient. This way, he she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any questions that arise.