Medication Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine from the facts about risks of their body, how it will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to be able to treat their patients, they must receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with specific information regarding his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. After receiving this information the patient is required to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is offered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances the patients aren’t equipped with the ability to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In some instances patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health workers. If this happens patients are said not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. The family member, or court-appointed representative can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, as an example – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Medication Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages of refusing treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be documented However, they should also discuss the situation with patients. In this way, he or is able to fully comprehend what is happening and get straight answers to any questions that may have arisen.