E Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are allowed to operate on patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement that requires that a patient be provided with specific information regarding the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge. After receiving this information the patient has to provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care is given. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients don’t have the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options , as well as the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health professionals. If this happens patients are said not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court appointed representative could then be able to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on their independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an E Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented in a written document They must also have a discussion with the patient. In this way, he or will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and will be able to get immediate answers to any concerns that might arise.