Form 7216 Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be injurious, and patients must be able to determine, based on known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must receive what is known as informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement under which a patient is informed of his or her physical health and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care is offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients don’t have the skills to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other situations, patients may not be able communicate their decision to health care professionals. In such situations the patient is said to not possess adequate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court appointed representative in this case, can take over informed consent.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. Patients who are in the state of unconscious are unable to make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Form 7216 Consent Form
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are available, as well as their risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages of refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented in a written document However, they should also be discussed with the patient. This way, he can fully comprehend the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.