Consent To Rate Form – Everyone should have the ability to make educated decisions about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to treat patients, they have to obtain the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition where a patient is informed of his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient has to provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other instances, patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health care professionals. If this happens the patient is said to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative then, is allowed to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance they could be judged as not possessing decision making capacity. Patients who are in the state of unconscious can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent To Rate Form
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment at all
These details must not only be detailed in documentation however, they must been discussed by the patient. This way, he or can fully comprehend the details of the situation and get straight answers to any concerns that might arise.