Informed Consent Form Template For Counseling – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be injurious, and patients must be able to decide in light of known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement under which a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the ability to comprehend their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other situations patients might not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health care professionals. In such situations, the patient is said not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court appointed representative in this case, can take over informed consent.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot take decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Informed Consent Form Template For Counseling
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the doctor in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to have a discussion with the patient. This way, he can fully comprehend the particulars of the case and receive direct responses to any concerns that might be arising.