Informed Consent Form Definition – Everyone should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical treatments can be risky, therefore patients should be able to decide, based on known risks of their body, how it will be treated. So, before medical professionals can administer treatments to patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement under which a patient has been provided with specific information regarding the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. After receiving this information the patient has to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the ability to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each. In other cases patients may not be able to communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations it is believed that the patient not to have adequate decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court appointed representative could then be able to take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, as an example they could be judged as not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Definition
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be detailed in documentation They must also discuss the situation with patients. So, he can fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any queries that might be arising.
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