Fidelity Spousal Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to ultimately determine in light of known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition where a patient is provided with detailed information about the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician in charge. After receiving this information patients must provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the capabilities to fully understand their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each one. In other cases patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health professionals. When this occurs the patient is said not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative will then be permitted to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Fidelity Spousal Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the acting physician
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records They must also have a discussion with the patient. So, he can fully comprehend the particulars of the case and can get direct answers to any queries that might arise.