Informed Consent Form Confidentiality – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able decide from the facts about risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition that requires that a patient be informed of the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of care can be offered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In some instances patients might not be able to communicate their decisions to the health workers. Under these circumstances the patient is considered to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative in this case, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Confidentiality
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment suggested by the medical professional in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages with refusing treatment at all
The items should not only be documented in a written document however, they must communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and get straight answers to any issues that may be arising.