Psychology Informed Consent Form Template – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their health. Treatments for medical conditions can be invasive, so patients should be able to decide, based on known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they must be given the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful requirement under which a patient is informed of his or her physical health and the treatment recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information patients must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form or treatment can be administered. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional is not allowed to provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the ability to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other situations, patients may not be able convey their preferences to health workers. Under these circumstances it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. If a family member is not present, or court appointed representative can give informed consent in lieu of the patient.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not having the capacity to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious cannot make decisions on their independently, and other people require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Psychology Informed Consent Form Template
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with not accepting any treatment at all
Not only should these details be documented, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he she will fully understand all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any queries that might arise.
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