Excursion Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed choices about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can operate on patients, they have to obtain the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition under which a patient is provided with specific information regarding the condition of their body and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. After receiving this information the patient must offer the physician consent to treat before any form of care can be offered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health professionals. When this occurs the patient is said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative could then be able to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not possessing decision making capacity. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on independently, and other people need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Excursion Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits associated with accepting no treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation However, they should also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he she will fully understand what is happening and receive direct responses to any queries that might be arising.