Pneumonia VACcine Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite injurious, and patients must be able to decide the risks that are known to be present and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals can be able to treat their patients, they need to receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement under which a patient has been provided with specific information regarding his or her physical health and the recommended treatment by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information, the patient must be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form of care can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional is not permitted to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the risks/benefits of each. In other situations, patients may not be able convey their preferences to health professionals. When this occurs patients are said not to have adequate decision making capacity. Family members or a court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not having the capacity for decision-making. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot make decisions on their own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Pneumonia VACcine Consent Form
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and benefits that come with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with refusing any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and get straight answers to any concerns that might be arising.