Operative Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able to determine the risks that are known to be present that their bodies should be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can provide treatment to patients they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition under which a patient has been provided with specific information regarding his or her physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of treatment can be given. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each. In other cases, patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health professionals. In these situations the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their independent of themselves, so outsiders have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Operative Consent Form
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment at all
The items should not only be detailed in documentation However, they should also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or can fully comprehend the particulars of the case and can get direct answers to any queries that might arise.