Consent To Screen Form – Everyone should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide the risks that are known to be present and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel can be able to treat their patients, they have to obtain what is known as informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be provided. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients may not have the ability to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each one. In other cases patients may not be able to communicate their choices to health professionals. When this occurs it is believed that the patient not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. An individual from the family or court appointed representative in this case, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance they could be judged as not having the capacity to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Consent To Screen Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with not accepting any 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 all the details of the scenario and receive direct responses to any concerns that might have arisen.