Pediatric Dental Treatment Consent Forms – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be risky, therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine, based on known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to operate on patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement that requires that a patient be given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to offer the physician consent to treat before any form of care can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances the patients aren’t equipped with the skills to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the benefits and risks associated with each one. In other instances patients may not be able convey their preferences to health workers. When this occurs patients are said to not possess adequate decision making capacity. Family members or a court appointed representative could then be able to perform informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot take decisions on their independently, and other people must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Pediatric Dental Treatment Consent Forms
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be documented in a written document But they also need to be discussed with the patient. This way, he is able to fully comprehend what is happening and will receive immediate responses to any queries that might be arising.