Chiropractic Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their health. The medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine according to the known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to operate on patients, they need to receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition that requires that a patient be given a complete and accurate description of the condition of their body and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of care is given. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the capacity to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each. In other cases patients may not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations it is believed that the patient not to possess the proper decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for example are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Chiropractic Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the medical professional in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation They must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he is able to fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will receive immediate responses to any issues that may have arisen.