Informed Consent Form Example Psychology – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be injurious, and patients must be able to determine according to the known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to provide treatment to patients they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition in which patients are provided with specific information regarding the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form of care is offered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options , as well as the benefits and risks associated with each. In other circumstances, patients may not be able communicate their decision to health workers. When this occurs, the patient is said to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. A family member or court-appointed representative, can provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Example Psychology
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation They must also be discussed with the patient. So, he is able to fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and will receive immediate responses to any issues that may arise.