Social Media Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make educated decisions about their healthcare. Treatments for medical conditions can be injurious, and patients must be able to determine according to the known risks of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to provide treatment to patients they must obtain the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement that requires that a patient be provided with specific information regarding his or her physical condition and the recommended treatment by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to sign a consent form with the doctor to treat prior to any form of treatment can be offered. Without informed consent from the patient any health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances patients don’t have the capacity to comprehend their options regarding treatment, and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other instances patients might not be able communicate their decision to health professionals. When this occurs the patient is said to lack the necessary decision making capacity. The family member, or court-appointed representative can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, as an example are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Social Media Consent Form
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments that are offered, as are their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with refusing any treatment at all
These items must not only be documented in a written document But they also need to be discussed with the patient. This way, he or can fully comprehend the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any concerns that might be arising.