Red Cross Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Treatments for medical conditions can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able decide, based on known risks and the way their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are allowed to treat patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement that requires that a patient be provided with detailed information about his or her physical state and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information patients must be able to give the physician their consent to treat prior to any form of treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the capacity to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits of each one. In other cases patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health professionals. In these situations, the patient is said to lack the necessary capacity for decision-making. A family member or court-appointed representative, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance they could be judged as not having the capacity for decision-making. Those who are unconscious clearly are unable to make decisions on their alone, and external parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Red Cross Consent Form
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the acting physician
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages of refusing treatment whatsoever
These items must not only be detailed in documentation But they also need to discuss the situation with patients. So, he can be fully aware of the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may be arising.