Data Protection Consent Form – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their health. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide according to the known risks, how their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must obtain the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition where a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical health and the treatment suggested by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of care is given. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the capabilities to fully understand their options in terms of treatment and the risks and benefits that come with each. In other situations, patients may not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health workers. Under these circumstances patients are said not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court appointed representative in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Data Protection Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits associated of refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented however, they must have a discussion with the patient. So, he can fully comprehend the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.