Medical Procedure Consent Form Template – Everybody should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical treatments can be invasive, so patients should be able decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can administer treatments to patients, they need to receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement under which a patient is informed of the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. After receiving this information, the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be offered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients don’t have the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits associated with each. In some instances, patients may not be able convey their preferences to health professionals. In these situations it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative then, is allowed to provide informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to not able to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Medical Procedure Consent Form Template
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits associated with accepting no treatment at all
Not only must these items be detailed in documentation however, they must be discussed with the patient. In this way, he or will be able to comprehend the specifics of the situation and can get direct answers to any concerns that might arise.