Ethical Consent Form Template – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be sensitive, so patients must be able decide according to the known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they need to receive the so-called 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. After receiving this information patients must offer the physician consent to treat before any form of treatment is delivered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances the patients aren’t equipped with the skills to comprehend the options for treatment and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other circumstances patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decision to health professionals. In these situations patients are said to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. A family member or court appointed representative then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to not having the capacity to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Ethical Consent Form Template
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The recommended treatment is suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated of refusing treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records They must also been discussed by the patient. This way, he will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and can get direct answers to any questions that be arising.
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