Interview Consent Form Journalism – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. The medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to operate on patients, they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement under which a patient has been provided with specific information regarding his or her physical state and the treatment suggested by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received, the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each one. In other cases, patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health workers. If this happens the patient is considered not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity for decision-making. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Interview Consent Form Journalism
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The procedure recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be detailed in documentation However, they should also discuss the situation with patients. This way, he can be fully aware of all the details of the scenario and will receive immediate responses to any questions that may have arisen.