Sample Telehealth Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to decide according to the known risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are allowed to be able to treat their patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition in which patients are provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical state and the recommended treatment by the physician in charge. After receiving this information patients must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent, a health care provider cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In other situations patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health workers. If this happens it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. The family member, or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Sample Telehealth Consent Form
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment recommended by the medical professional in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated of refusing treatment at all
These items must not only be recorded in the documentation However, they should also discuss the situation with patients. This way, he or can be fully aware of all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any issues that may be arising.