Global Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. The medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide according to the known risks that their bodies should be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement where a patient is informed of the physical condition and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. Once this information is received the patient has to give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks and benefits that come with each. In other instances patients might not be able convey their preferences to health workers. When this occurs the patient is considered to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. Family members or a court-appointed representative then, is allowed to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious can’t make decisions on own, and outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Global Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
Not only should these details be detailed in documentation, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he she will fully understand the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any concerns that might be arising.
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