Research Consent Form Template – Every person should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical procedures can be sensitive, so patients must be able to determine in light of known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to provide treatment to patients they must be given the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with detailed information about his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of care can be administered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations, patients do not possess the knowledge to fully comprehend their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other cases, patients may not be able to effectively communicate their decisions to the health care professionals. If this happens, the patient is said not to have adequate decision making capacity. Family members or a court appointed representative can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for example they could be judged as not having the capacity to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious can’t make decisions on own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Research Consent Form Template
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must be discussed with the patient. This way, he can be fully aware of the particulars of the case and will receive immediate responses to any queries that might arise.
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