Human Subject Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. The medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks of their body, how it will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can provide treatment to patients they must receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition under which a patient has been provided with specific information regarding his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the treating physician. After receiving this information patients must provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care is offered. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other situations patients may not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health workers. When this occurs the patient is considered not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, could then be able to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not having the capacity to make decisions. The ones who are asleep clearly are unable to make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Human Subject Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with accepting no treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and will receive immediate responses to any questions that be arising.