Consent Form For – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to administer treatments to patients, they must be given the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition where a patient is provided with specific information regarding his or her physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of treatment is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the capacity to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits associated with each. In other cases, patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health professionals. In such situations patients are said to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to not able to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form For
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, as well as their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
Not only must these items be documented in a written document But they also need to have a discussion with the patient. This way, he can fully comprehend the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any concerns that might arise.