Death Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can provide treatment to patients they must receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement under which a patient has been provided with a full and complete description of the condition of their body and the treatment suggested by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of treatment can be given. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the ability to comprehend their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In some instances patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health care professionals. If this happens the patient is considered to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative, in this case, can take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example can be deemed to lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly can’t make decisions on own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Death Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation But they also need to have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or can fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will receive immediate responses to any concerns that might be arising.
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