Child Guardian Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Medical treatments can be sensitive, so patients must be able to decide according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can operate on patients, they must be given the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement in which patients are given a complete and accurate description of the condition of their body as well as the treatment that is recommended by the acting physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form or treatment can be provided. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients don’t have the capacity to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other circumstances patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health care professionals. Under these circumstances patients are said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance are deemed not possessing decision making capacity. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Child Guardian Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment at all
These details must not only be documented however, they must be discussed with the patient. This way, he or is able to fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will receive immediate responses to any concerns that might be arising.