Printable Surgical Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able to decide, based on known risks that their bodies should be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they must be given what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition under which a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical health as well as the treatment that is recommended by the acting physician. Once this information is received, the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment can be provided. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend the options for treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other situations patients may not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health care professionals. When this occurs, the patient is said to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative in this case, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example could be classified as lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Printable Surgical Consent Form
There are certain elements that are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing treatment at all
Not only should these details be recorded in the documentation They must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or is able to fully comprehend what is happening and get straight answers to any questions that be arising.