Free Minor Medical Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement under which a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the acting physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care can be given. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the ability to comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits of each. In other instances patients might not be able convey their preferences to health care professionals. In such situations, the patient is said to lack the necessary decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance they could be judged as not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on their alone, and external parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Free Minor Medical Consent Form
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment suggested by the acting physician
The risks and benefits that come with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation But they also need to be discussed with the patient. This way, he or she will fully understand the particulars of the case and can get direct answers to any queries that might arise.