Consent Form Format For Research – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be sensitive, so patients must be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel can be able to treat their patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of care is given. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the capabilities to fully understand their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In other circumstances patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decision to health professionals. In such situations the patient is said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. Family members or a court appointed representative can provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example can be deemed to not having the capacity to make decisions. The ones who are asleep clearly can’t make decisions on independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form Format For Research
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the documentation However, they should also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he will be able to comprehend the particulars of the case and receive direct responses to any queries that might have arisen.