Ophthalmology Consent Forms Dos – Everybody should be able to make informed choices about their health. The medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able to ultimately determine, based on known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can operate on patients, they must receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients lack the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits associated with each. In some instances patients might not be able convey their preferences to health professionals. Under these circumstances it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court appointed representative in this case, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as not able to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on independent of themselves, so outsiders must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Ophthalmology Consent Forms Dos
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the acting physician
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with accepting no treatment at all
Not only must these items be documented in a written document, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or is able to fully comprehend the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may arise.
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