Different Forms Of Consent – Everyone should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. The medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide the risks that are known to be present and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals can operate on patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement under which a patient has been informed of the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of care can be offered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the ability to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each one. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations patients are said not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. The family member, or court-appointed representative could then be able to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance are deemed not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Different Forms Of Consent
Certain elements 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 treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with accepting no treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the documentation They must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or is able to fully comprehend the details of the situation and get straight answers to any concerns that might arise.