Electronic W2 Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. The medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can administer treatments to patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received patients must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is offered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients don’t have the ability to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In other instances patients might not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health care professionals. When this occurs the patient is considered not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court appointed representative could then be able to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Electronic W2 Consent Form
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must have a discussion with the patient. So, he she will fully understand the details of the situation and get straight answers to any issues that may be arising.