General Informed Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can be able to treat their patients, they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition under which a patient is provided with specific information regarding his or her physical condition and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information patients must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the capacity to comprehend their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other cases patients may not be able to communicate their decisions to the health workers. If this happens the patient is considered to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court appointed representative then, is allowed to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an General Informed Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with not accepting any treatment at all
The items should not only be documented in a written document, but they must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he will be able to comprehend what is happening and can get direct answers to any concerns that might have arisen.
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