Psychology Consent Form Template – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able to decide in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to provide treatment to patients they have to obtain the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition under which a patient has been provided with detailed information about his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the acting physician. After receiving this information, the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form or treatment can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the skills to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the benefits and risks associated with each. In other instances, patients may not be able to explain their decisions to health workers. In such situations patients are said to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court-appointed representative can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for instance can be deemed to not possessing decision making capacity. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on alone, and external parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Psychology Consent Form Template
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The diagnosis or medical condition of the patient.
The treatment recommended by the acting physician
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are readily offered, as are their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come of refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be documented in a written document however, they must discuss the situation with patients. So, he will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that arise.