Physical Therapy Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite invasive, so patients should be able, in the end, to decide, based on known risks that their bodies should be treated. So, before medical professionals are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement in which patients are given a complete and accurate description of the condition of their body and the recommended treatment by the doctor in charge. Once this information is received the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment is administered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each one. In some instances patients may not be able communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations it is believed that the patient not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. The family member, or court-appointed representative, in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear for instance can be deemed to not able to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on their own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Physical Therapy Consent Form
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation They must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that may have arisen.