D&c Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite invasive, so patients should be able to ultimately determine from the facts about risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can provide treatment to patients they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement where a patient is informed of his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care is delivered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the benefits and risks associated with each. In other instances, patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health care professionals. When this occurs patients are said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. Patients who are in the state of unconscious can’t make decisions on independent of themselves, so outsiders require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an D&c Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be detailed in documentation, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or is able to fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any queries that might arise.