Form Of Consent – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical treatments can be sensitive, so patients must be able to decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition where a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of care can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the benefits and risks associated with each. In other situations, patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health care professionals. In such situations, the patient is said not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court-appointed representative, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to not able to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot take decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Form Of Consent
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment that is recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented in a written document, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he or will be able to comprehend what is happening and get straight answers to any concerns that might be arising.
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