Informed Consent Form Psychology Therapy – Everyone should have the ability to make informed choices about their healthcare. Medical treatments can be quite risky, therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide, based on known risks, how their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition in which patients are informed of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the acting physician. Once this information is received patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form of care can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients don’t have the skills to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other instances patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health care professionals. When this occurs, the patient is said to not possess adequate capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court-appointed representative then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Psychology Therapy
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment at all
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation But they also need to communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or can fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any questions that have arisen.