Standard Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed choices about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to determine the risks that are known to be present of their body, how it will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals are permitted to operate on patients, they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition where a patient is given a complete and accurate description of his or her physical condition and the treatment recommended by the physician in charge. Once this information is received patients must offer the physician consent to treat prior to any form of care can be administered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional is not permitted to offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases, patients do not possess the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options , as well as the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In some instances, patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health professionals. When this occurs the patient is considered not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. The family member, or court appointed representative will then be permitted to take over informed consent.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions such as anxiety or fear for instance – may be determined as not having the capacity to make decisions. Those who are unconscious clearly can’t make decisions on independent of themselves, so outsiders must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Standard Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the acting physician
The risks and advantages associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with refusing treatment at all
The items should not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records But they also need to have a discussion with the patient. In this way, he or is able to fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may arise.
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