Informed Consent Form Example – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. The medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to decide in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they have to obtain the process of informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition under which a patient is informed of his or her physical health and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of care can be provided. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances the patients aren’t equipped with the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options and the risks and benefits that come with each. In other situations patients may not be able communicate their choices to health care professionals. If this happens the patient is considered not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to perform informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on their own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Example
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and the benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment at all
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation However, they should also been discussed by the patient. So, he will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that may arise.
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