General Procedure Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition under which a patient is provided with specific information regarding his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each. In other circumstances patients might not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health workers. Under these circumstances the patient is considered to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative, in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity for decision-making. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot make decisions on alone, and external parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an General Procedure Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be documented They must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or can be fully aware of the specifics of the situation and can get direct answers to any questions that may be arising.