Counseling Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide in light of known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to treat patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful requirement under which a patient is given a complete and accurate description of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. After receiving this information the patient has to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of care can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients may not have the capacity to comprehend the options for treatment and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other cases patients might not be able to communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations patients are said not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not able to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot take decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Counseling Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages with not accepting any treatment at all
These details must not only be documented But they also need to have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or can be fully aware of the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any issues that may arise.
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