Massage Therapy Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide, based on known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to operate on patients, they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition under which a patient has been 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 offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is provided. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients may not have the skills to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each one. In other situations patients may not be able communicate their choices to health professionals. When this occurs the patient is said not to have adequate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, could then be able to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on independently, and other people need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Massage Therapy Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The procedure recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are available, as well as their benefits and risks
The potential risks and rewards with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be recorded in the patient’s medical records, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. So, he can fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any queries that might be arising.