Patient Consent Forms – Everyone should have the ability to make educated decisions about their healthcare. The medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine in light of known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can provide treatment to patients they must be given the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition where a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of care can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the capacity to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each one. In some instances patients might not be able convey their preferences to health workers. In these situations patients are said to lack the necessary capacity to make decisions. Family members or a court-appointed representative then, is allowed to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot take decisions on their alone, and external parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Patient Consent Forms
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing any treatment at all
These items must not only be documented however, they must have a discussion with the patient. So, he is able to fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and get straight answers to any concerns that might be arising.
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