Dental Laser Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make educated decisions about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to determine the risks that are known to be present, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to provide treatment to patients they need to receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement under which a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical state as well as the treatment that is recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the capacity to comprehend the options for treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other instances, patients may not be able convey their preferences to health workers. If this happens the patient is said to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court-appointed representative could then be able to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Dental Laser Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with not accepting any treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or is able to fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that arise.