Emergency Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite invasive, so patients should be able to ultimately determine in light of known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition under which a patient is given a complete and accurate description of the physical condition and the treatment recommended by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form or treatment can be given. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances, patients do not possess the capacity to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other instances patients might not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health professionals. Under these circumstances, the patient is said to not possess adequate capacity to make decisions. A family member or court appointed representative then, is allowed to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Emergency Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with refusing treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he is able to fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and receive direct responses to any questions that may be arising.