Do Medical Consent Forms Need To Be Notarized – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. The medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide in light of known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement where a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical condition and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is delivered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend the options for treatment and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other cases patients might not be able explain their decisions to health care professionals. Under these circumstances the patient is said not to possess the proper decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to not having the capacity for decision-making. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Do Medical Consent Forms Need To Be Notarized
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The procedure recommended by the acting physician
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated of refusing treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be documented in a written document They must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he or can fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any issues that may be arising.