Electronic Disclosure Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their health. The medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to decide in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals can administer treatments to patients, they must receive the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement that requires that a patient be given a complete and accurate description of the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of treatment can be administered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients don’t have the ability to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances patients may not be able to communicate their decisions to the health workers. If this happens the patient is said to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court appointed representative could then be able to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, as an example they could be judged as not having the capacity to make decisions. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Electronic Disclosure Consent Form
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the medical professional in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages with refusing any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be detailed in documentation However, they should also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and get straight answers to any issues that may have arisen.