Organ Donation Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Medical treatments can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide the risks that are known to be present as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to operate on patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition where a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical condition and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of care can be administered. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the capacity to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits associated with each. In some instances patients might not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health professionals. Under these circumstances the patient is said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative will then be permitted to provide informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for example are deemed not having the capacity for decision-making. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Organ Donation Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments available, along with their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with refusing treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to been discussed by the patient. So, he can fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any concerns that might arise.