Generic Medical Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. Medical treatments can be risky, therefore patients should be able to decide according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to operate on patients, they must obtain the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement in which patients are provided with specific information regarding his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. After receiving this information, the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of treatment is given. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients don’t have the skills to comprehend their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other instances, patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health professionals. When this occurs, the patient is said to not possess adequate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court-appointed representative could then be able to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not able to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Generic Medical Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The procedure recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be detailed in documentation They must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or can fully comprehend what is happening and get straight answers to any concerns that might arise.