General Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their health. Medical treatments can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can treat 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 condition of their body and the treatment recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information, the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients may not have the skills to comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In other instances patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health workers. In these situations the patient is considered to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative in this case, can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an General Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages with accepting no treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be recorded in the patient’s medical records They must also discuss the situation with patients. This way, he can be fully aware of the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any questions that arise.
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