Medical Procedure Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical treatments can be risky, therefore patients should be able to determine the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are allowed to operate on patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition where a patient is given a complete and accurate description of the condition of their body as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be administered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks and benefits that come with each. In other situations, patients may not be able convey their preferences to health care professionals. In such situations the patient is said not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court appointed representative in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example are deemed lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on alone, and external parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Medical Procedure Consent Form
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments available, along with their benefits and risks
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation They must also have a discussion with the patient. So, he she will fully understand what is happening and will receive immediate responses to any questions that arise.