Do Not Resuscitate Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be invasive, so patients should be able decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to provide treatment to patients they need to receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition that requires that a patient be given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. After receiving this information the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of care is administered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the ability to comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In other instances patients might not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health professionals. In such situations, the patient is said to lack the necessary decision making capacity. The family member, or court-appointed representative, could then be able to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Do Not Resuscitate Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The procedure recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with accepting no treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be documented They must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or is able to fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will receive immediate responses to any issues that may have arisen.
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