Consent Order Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to administer treatments to patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement under which a patient has been provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical health and the recommended treatment by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form or treatment can be provided. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients don’t have the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In other instances, patients may not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health workers. If this happens, the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court-appointed representative will then be permitted to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear for instance – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on alone, and external parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent Order Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments available, along with their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with accepting no treatment at all
The items should not only be detailed in documentation However, they should also discuss the situation with patients. In this way, he or she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that have arisen.