Ophthalmology Consent Forms – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their health. Medical treatments can be risky, therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine according to the known risks, how their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to treat patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition that requires that a patient be provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information patients must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks and benefits that come with each one. In some instances patients may not be able communicate their decisions to the health professionals. In these situations, the patient is said to not possess adequate capacity for decision-making. Family members or a 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 for instance – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Ophthalmology Consent Forms
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments that are available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated of refusing treatment at all
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation They must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or is able to fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any issues that may have arisen.