Spousal Consent Form Sample – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able to decide from the facts about risks as well as their own personal preferences, how they will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to operate on patients, they must be given 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 the physical condition and the treatment recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of care can be delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain instances, patients do not possess the capabilities to fully understand their options regarding treatment, and the benefits and risks associated with each. In some instances, patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health professionals. In these situations it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. The family member, or court appointed representative in this case, can take over informed consent.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Spousal Consent Form Sample
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the physician in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment at all
These items must not only be detailed in documentation however, they must been discussed by the patient. This way, he or is able to fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and get straight answers to any questions that be arising.
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