Consent Form VFS – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine, based on known risks, how their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to administer treatments to patients, they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement that requires that a patient be provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information, the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form or treatment can be provided. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients lack the capacity to comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each. In other instances patients may not be able communicate their decision to health professionals. When this occurs it is believed that the patient to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court appointed representative then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. Patients who are in the state of unconscious can’t make decisions on own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Form VFS
There are certain elements that are commonly 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 available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he or can be fully aware of all the details of the scenario and receive direct responses to any concerns that might be arising.
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