Restraint Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed choices about their medical care. Medical treatments can be sensitive, so patients must be able to ultimately determine from the facts about risks, how their bodies will be treated. Thus, before medical professionals are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must receive what is known as informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding requirement under which a patient has been informed of his or her physical health and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to offer the physician consent to treat before any form or treatment can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not permitted to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients may not have the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits of each. In some instances patients may not be able communicate their choices to health care professionals. When this occurs, the patient is said not to possess the proper decision making capacity. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, could then be able to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear for instance could be classified as lacking the ability to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Restraint Consent Form
Certain elements are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are readily available, along with their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing any treatment whatsoever
The items should not only be documented however, they must be discussed with the patient. This way, he is able to fully comprehend what is happening and can get direct answers to any concerns that might have arisen.