Red Cross Parental Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. The medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine in light of known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they need to receive what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition under which a patient has been provided with a full and complete description of the condition of their body as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received the patient must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care can be given. Without the patient’s informed consent health care professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the ability to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other cases patients might not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health care professionals. In such situations the patient is said not to have adequate capacity for decision-making. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative then, is allowed to perform informed consent instead.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly cannot make decisions on their own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Red Cross Parental Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the medical professional in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, as well as their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing any treatment at all
The items should not only be documented in a written document, but they must also be discussed with the patient. This way, he can be fully aware of all the details of the scenario and get straight answers to any queries that might be arising.
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