Surgical Procedure Consent Form – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. The medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to ultimately determine from the facts about risks of their body, how it will be treated. So, before medical professionals can operate on patients, they must receive the process of informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of his or her physical health and the treatment recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of care can be delivered. Without informed consent from the patient an health care professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients lack the capabilities to fully understand the options for treatment and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In some instances, patients may not be able to effectively convey their preferences to health care professionals. In such situations patients are said not to possess the proper decision making capacity. The family member, or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions, such as anxiety or fear, for instance are deemed not having the capacity to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on their independently, and other people are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an Surgical Procedure Consent Form
Certain elements are common to all consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and the benefits associated with this method of treatment
Alternative treatments are available, as well as their potential risks and benefits
The risks and benefits that come with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the documentation However, they should also be discussed with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and will be able to get immediate answers to any issues that may have arisen.