E Sign Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed choices about their health. Medical treatments can be risky, therefore patients should be able decide according to the known risks, how their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to treat patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the condition of their body and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of care can be given. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the capabilities to fully understand the options for treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In other instances patients might not be able to communicate their decision to health care professionals. Under these circumstances it is believed that the patient to lack the necessary decision making capacity. Family members or a court-appointed representative can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an E Sign Consent Form
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
Alternative treatments are available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with accepting no treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the documentation however, they must have a discussion with the patient. So, he will be able to comprehend the particulars of the case and can get direct answers to any questions that may have arisen.