Ortho Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical treatments can be risky, therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can operate on patients, they must be given 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 specific information regarding the condition of their body and the treatment suggested by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received, the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In some instances patients might not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health professionals. In these situations the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative will then be permitted to give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Ortho Consent Form
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits that come with not accepting any treatment at all
Not only should these details be documented in a written document however, they must discuss the situation with patients. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any issues that may have arisen.