Dental Orthodontic Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. The medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able decide the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful requirement under which a patient is provided with specific information regarding his or her physical health and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. After receiving this information, the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of treatment is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients may not have the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health care professionals. When this occurs the patient is said not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on independently, and other people need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Dental Orthodontic Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this procedure
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be detailed in documentation But they also need to been discussed by the patient. In this way, he or she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that have arisen.