Irrevocable Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. Medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able to determine according to the known risks that their bodies should be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they have to obtain the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition that requires that a patient be given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical state and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the capabilities to fully understand their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each. In some instances, patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decision to health care professionals. In such situations patients are said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. A family member or court appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, as an example they could be judged as not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot make decisions on own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Irrevocable Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the documentation however, they must been discussed by the patient. In this way, he or can fully comprehend what is happening and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that be arising.
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