Text Reminder Consent Form – Everyone should have the ability to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Treatments for medical conditions can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able, in the end, to decide from the facts about risks that their bodies should be treated. So, before medical professionals are permitted to operate on patients, they must obtain the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition in which patients are informed of the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the acting physician. After receiving this information patients must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of care is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the ability to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks and benefits that come with each. In other situations patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health workers. In such situations it is believed that the patient to not possess adequate capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are strongly affected by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, for example can be deemed to not having the capacity to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot take decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties require consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Text Reminder Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The procedure recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be detailed in documentation, but they must also been discussed by the patient. This way, he can fully comprehend the specifics of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that may arise.