Hemodialysis Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their health. The medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. So, before medical professionals are permitted to treat patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition in which patients are provided with a full and complete description of the condition of their body and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form or treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the capacity to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances patients might not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health workers. In these situations, the patient is said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. The family member, or 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, as an example could be classified as lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Hemodialysis Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with accepting no treatment at all
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation, but they must also been discussed by the patient. So, he can be fully aware of the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any concerns that might be arising.