Parental Consent Form Template Australia – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to operate on patients, they must obtain the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition in which patients are 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 has to be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the capabilities to fully understand their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other situations patients might not be able explain their decisions to health care professionals. If this happens the patient is considered to not possess adequate decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court appointed representative can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Parental Consent Form Template Australia
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the doctor in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments available, along with their benefits and risks
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented, but they must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or she will fully understand what is happening and will receive immediate responses to any questions that be arising.