Dental Treatment Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Treatments for medical conditions can be sensitive, so patients must be able decide from the facts about risks that their bodies should be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can provide treatment to patients they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical condition and the treatment recommended by the doctor in charge. 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 is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health workers. In these situations patients are said to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Dental Treatment Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, as well as their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment at all
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. So, he will be able to comprehend the particulars of the case and will receive immediate responses to any issues that may be arising.