Family Court Consent Order Form – Everybody should be able to make informed choices about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to decide from the facts about risks, how their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition under which a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical condition and the treatment suggested by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of care is administered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the capabilities to fully understand the options for treatment and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other situations patients might not be able explain their decisions to health workers. In these situations, the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative could then be able to take over informed consent.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance they could be judged as not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Family Court Consent Order Form
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation however, they must communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he is able to fully comprehend what is happening and receive direct responses to any queries that might be arising.