Informed Consent Form Purpose – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Medical treatments can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to provide treatment to patients they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition under which a patient has been provided with detailed information about the condition of their body and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of care is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the ability to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits associated with each. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health care professionals. In such situations the patient is considered not to have adequate decision making capacity. Family members or a court appointed representative then, is allowed to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Purpose
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the acting physician
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment at all
Not only must these items be detailed in documentation They must also been discussed by the patient. This way, he or can be fully aware of the particulars of the case and receive direct responses to any questions that may be arising.
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