Patient Consent Form Pdf – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine from the facts about risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to provide treatment to patients they must be given what is known as informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement in which patients are informed of the condition of their body and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of care is given. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances patients may not be able communicate their decision to health workers. In these situations the patient is said not to have adequate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court-appointed representative will then be permitted to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance could be classified as not having the capacity to make decisions. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Patient Consent Form Pdf
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their benefits and risks
The risks and benefits associated with refusing treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be documented in a written document However, they should also be discussed with the patient. In this way, he or will be able to comprehend what is happening and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may have arisen.