Informed Consent Form Counseling – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Treatments for medical conditions can be risky, therefore patients should be able decide in light of known risks that their bodies should be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition in which patients are informed of his or her physical health and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat before any form of care is offered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients don’t have the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each. In other situations, patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health workers. In these situations it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court-appointed representative can provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. The ones who are asleep clearly can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Counseling
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be documented in a written document But they also need to been discussed by the patient. So, he she will fully understand the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that may be arising.