Occupier Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be sensitive, so patients must be able to decide in light of known risks of their body, how it will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful requirement where a patient is informed of his or her physical condition and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other situations, patients may not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health professionals. In these situations it is believed that the patient not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court-appointed representative will then be permitted to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, as an example they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on their alone, and external parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Occupier Consent Form
There are certain elements that are common to all consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment recommended by the acting physician
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment at all
These items must not only be documented in a written document However, they should also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or can be fully aware of the details of the situation and get straight answers to any issues that may have arisen.