Dnr Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their health. Medical treatments can be injurious, and patients must be able to decide from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are allowed to treat patients, they have to obtain the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the condition of their body and the treatment suggested by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the capacity to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other instances patients might not be able explain their decisions to health professionals. When this occurs the patient is said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. Family members or a court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for instance could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Dnr Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the acting physician
The risks and benefits that come with this procedure
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
The items should not only be documented in a written document They must also be discussed with the patient. So, he will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any issues that may have arisen.