Consent Form British Council – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their healthcare. Medical treatments can be quite demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine the risks that are known to be present, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can provide treatment to patients they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition that requires that a patient be provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information the patient has to offer the physician consent to treat before any form of treatment is delivered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances the patients aren’t equipped with the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each. In other circumstances patients might not be able to communicate their choices to health workers. In such situations patients are said to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court appointed representative could then be able to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form British Council
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The procedure recommended by the acting physician
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated of refusing treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to discuss the situation with patients. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any issues that may arise.