Evaluation Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed choices about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able to decide the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition where a patient is provided with specific information regarding the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the treating physician. Once this information is received, the patient must offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be provided. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients don’t have the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each. In other situations patients might not be able to communicate their decisions to the health professionals. If this happens the patient is said to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court appointed representative then, is allowed to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious can’t make decisions on alone, and external parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Evaluation Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with not accepting any treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation however, they must have a discussion with the patient. In this way, he or is able to fully comprehend the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.