Parent Consent Form – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to provide treatment to patients they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal condition that requires that a patient be provided with specific information regarding the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of care can be given. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances the patients aren’t equipped with the capacity to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the benefits and risks associated with each. In other instances patients might not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health professionals. In these situations, the patient is said to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court appointed representative could then be able to take over informed consent.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for example they could be judged as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Parent Consent Form
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records They must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he is able to fully comprehend the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any questions that may be arising.