Consent Form By Parents – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide according to the known risks that their bodies should be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they must be given the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement where a patient is given a complete and accurate description of the condition of their body and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of care is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients lack the ability to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each one. In other circumstances, patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health workers. If this happens patients are said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. A family member or court-appointed representative can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form By Parents
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their benefits and risks
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation however, they must have a discussion with the patient. So, he she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that arise.