Health Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make educated decisions about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition that requires that a patient be provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical health and the recommended treatment by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received, the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment is delivered. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the ability to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other instances patients may not be able to communicate their choices to health care professionals. Under these circumstances patients are said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to lacking the ability to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on their independently, and other people have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Health Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented however, they must have a discussion with the patient. This way, he will be able to comprehend what is happening and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.
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