Consent Form – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their healthcare. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able decide from the facts about risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can administer treatments to patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition 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 the patient has to be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form or treatment can be offered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each. In other instances patients might not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health care professionals. When this occurs it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. The family member, or court-appointed representative will then be permitted to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear for instance they could be judged as not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with refusing any treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must discuss the situation with patients. This way, he will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and will receive immediate responses to any questions that arise.
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