Reference Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make educated decisions about their health. Medical treatments can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks, how their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they must receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful requirement under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the doctor in charge. After receiving this information, the patient must offer the physician consent to treat before any form of treatment can be given. Without informed consent from the patient health care professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients may not have the capacity to comprehend their treatment options and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In some instances patients may not be able convey their preferences to health professionals. Under these circumstances the patient is considered to lack the appropriate capacity for decision-making. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example they could be judged as not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on independently, and other people must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Reference Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician who is acting
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be detailed in documentation But they also need to discuss the situation with patients. This way, he she will fully understand all the details of the scenario and will receive immediate responses to any questions that may have arisen.