Physiotherapy Consent Form Template – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to decide, based on known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to operate on patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is informed of his or her physical health and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. After receiving this information, the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form of treatment can be administered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the skills to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks and benefits that come with each. In other situations patients may not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health professionals. In such situations patients are said to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. A family member or court appointed representative could then be able to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity for decision-making. Patients who are in the state of unconscious cannot make decisions on independently, and other people must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Physiotherapy Consent Form Template
Certain elements are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are available, along with their risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing treatment whatsoever
These details must not only be documented in a written document They must also been discussed by the patient. This way, he is able to fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.