Consent Form For Psychological Assessment – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be sensitive, so patients must be able to ultimately determine, based on known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is informed of his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is administered. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the capacity to comprehend their treatment options and the benefits and risks associated with each. In other circumstances patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health workers. Under these circumstances it is believed that the patient to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. The family member, or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot take decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form For Psychological Assessment
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments that are available, as well as their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards of refusing treatment at all
Not only must these items be documented however, they must discuss the situation with patients. So, he can be fully aware of the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any questions that may be arising.