Form 11 Consent Orders – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide from the facts about risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to operate on patients, they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful requirement in which patients are given a complete and accurate description of the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received the patient is required to offer the physician consent to treat before any form of treatment is administered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other situations patients might not be able to communicate their decisions to the health professionals. In such situations the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative will then be permitted to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example they could be judged as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Form 11 Consent Orders
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, along with their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to been discussed by the patient. So, he can fully comprehend the particulars of the case and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that arise.