Psychology Consent Form Ib – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. The medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to ultimately determine the risks that are known to be present, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can treat patients, they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition where a patient is provided with detailed information about the condition of their body and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient has to give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of treatment is offered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances patients lack the skills to comprehend their treatment options and the risks and benefits that come with each. In other cases, patients may not be able communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations patients are said not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative could then be able to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance they could be judged as not possessing decision making capacity. The patients who are unconscious can’t make decisions on independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Psychology Consent Form Ib
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the acting physician
The risks and benefits that come with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with refusing any treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must be discussed with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and will be able to get immediate answers to any concerns that might arise.