Medical Consent Form Canada – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are permitted to treat patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement in which patients are provided with detailed information about his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients may not have the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each. In other cases, patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health professionals. Under these circumstances patients are said not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative then, is allowed to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. The ones who are asleep clearly are unable to make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Medical Consent Form Canada
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be detailed in documentation, but they must also discuss the situation with patients. This way, he will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and will be able to get immediate answers to any questions that be arising.