Mentor Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Treatments for medical conditions can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine in light of known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to treat patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement in which patients are given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical condition and the treatment suggested by the acting physician. After receiving this information, the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients lack the capabilities to fully understand the options for treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances patients might not be able to effectively communicate their decision to health care professionals. In these situations the patient is considered to lack the necessary decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for example they could be judged as not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Mentor Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the medical professional in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are available, along with their risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented, but they must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or is able to fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and get straight answers to any concerns that might arise.