Letter Of Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be risky, therefore patients should be able decide, based on known risks of their body, how it will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to provide treatment to patients they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received, the patient must offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be provided. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the capabilities to fully understand their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each. In other instances patients might not be able to communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations patients are said not to possess the proper decision making capacity. Family members or a court-appointed representative could then be able to provide informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Letter Of Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the doctor in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come of refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be documented in a written document However, they should also discuss the situation with patients. In this way, he or she will fully understand all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any concerns that might have arisen.
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