Clearinghouse Consent Form – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine the risks that are known to be present, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of care is provided. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the skills to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each. In other instances, patients may not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health workers. In these situations the patient is said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. Family members or a court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to provide informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on their own, and outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Clearinghouse Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated of refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be documented They must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or can fully comprehend what is happening and receive direct responses to any concerns that might arise.