Medical Consent Form For Minor While Parents Are Away – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their health. Medical treatments 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. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they need to receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition under which a patient has been provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. After receiving this information patients must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form or treatment can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances the patients aren’t equipped with the skills to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits associated with each. In other instances, patients may not be able to communicate their choices to health workers. In such situations patients are said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. A family member or court-appointed representative, can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly can’t make decisions on own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Medical Consent Form For Minor While Parents Are Away
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The procedure recommended by the physician in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment at all
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and can get direct answers to any questions that may arise.