Legal Consent Form Template – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their health. The medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able decide the risks that are known to be present as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to operate on patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the requirement where a patient is provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients don’t have the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each one. In some instances patients may not be able convey their preferences to health workers. Under these circumstances it is believed that the patient to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, can provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not able to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on alone, and external parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Legal Consent Form Template
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records They must also be discussed with the patient. So, he she will fully understand the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any queries that might have arisen.
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