Declaration Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able to decide in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they must receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition that requires that a patient be provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical condition and the treatment suggested by the treating physician. After receiving this information the patient must offer the physician consent to treat before any form of treatment is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health workers. When this occurs, the patient is said to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court-appointed representative in this case, can provide informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Declaration Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the acting physician
The benefits and risks associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be documented in a written document However, they should also be discussed with the patient. In this way, he or will be able to comprehend what is happening and will receive immediate responses to any questions that may be arising.