Patient Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. The medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able to determine the risks that are known to be present as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement under which a patient has been provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical health and the recommended treatment by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information, the patient must provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of treatment is offered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other situations, patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health workers. If this happens it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative, can take over informed consent.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly can’t make decisions on alone, and external parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Patient Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with accepting no treatment at all
The items should not only be documented in a written document however, they must be discussed with the patient. In this way, he or will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any queries that might arise.
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