Influenza Vaccine Informed Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite risky, therefore patients should be able to decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are allowed to administer treatments to patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information the patient has to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other situations, patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health professionals. Under these circumstances, the patient is said to lack the necessary decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on independently, and other people must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Influenza Vaccine Informed Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be documented however, they must been discussed by the patient. In this way, he or she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and can get direct answers to any issues that may be arising.