Nsfas Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to administer treatments to patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement under which a patient has been informed of his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. After receiving this information patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In other cases patients may not be able communicate their decision to health care professionals. When this occurs it is believed that the patient to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, in this case, can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example could be classified as not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Nsfas Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and the benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments that are available, along with their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages of refusing treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records They must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. So, he can fully comprehend the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any concerns that might arise.