How To Write A Consent Form Psychology – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions about their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite demanding, and therefore patients should be able to decide, based on known risks, how their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they must obtain the process of informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition under which a patient has been provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form or treatment can be provided. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the skills to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each. In other situations, patients may not be able explain their decisions to health care professionals. When this occurs patients are said to not possess adequate capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their independently, and other people need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an How To Write A Consent Form Psychology
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are available, along with their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with accepting no treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation however, they must discuss the situation with patients. This way, he can fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and get straight answers to any questions that may arise.