Massage Consent Forms – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. Medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able decide in light of known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel can provide treatment to patients they need to receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical state and the treatment suggested by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care is delivered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients don’t have the ability to comprehend their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other situations patients might not be able convey their preferences to health care professionals. Under these circumstances the patient is said not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative in this case, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed lacking the ability to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on alone, and external parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Massage Consent Forms
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, as well as their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with not accepting any treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the documentation however, they must be discussed with the patient. So, he will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any concerns that might be arising.