Consent Form To Treat A Minor – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able decide from the facts about risks of their body, how it will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can operate on patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement in which patients are provided with detailed information about the condition of their body as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge. Once this information is received, the patient must offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of care is offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each one. In some instances patients may not be able communicate their choices to health workers. In these situations patients are said to not possess adequate capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed lacking the ability to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on their own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form To Treat A Minor
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment that is recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented in a written document But they also need to be discussed with the patient. So, he can be fully aware of the details of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any concerns that might be arising.