Dama Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able, in the end, to decide the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they must be given the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition under which a patient has been given a complete and accurate description of the condition of their body and the treatment recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information, the patient must offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of care can be given. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each. In other circumstances patients may not be able to communicate their choices to health professionals. In these situations, the patient is said to not possess adequate capacity for decision-making. The family member, or court-appointed representative in this case, can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious can’t make decisions on independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Dama Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages with refusing any treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he or she will fully understand the particulars of the case and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that arise.