The Consent Form Is – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able to decide the risks that are known to be present of their body, how it will be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are permitted to operate on patients, they must receive the so-called informed consent.
A patient’s informed consent can be a legally binding condition where a patient is informed of his or her physical condition and the treatment suggested by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient is required to be able to give the physician their consent to treat before any form of care is delivered. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations, 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 explain their decisions to health care professionals. When this occurs the patient is said to lack the necessary decision making capacity. The family member, or court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients that are strongly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance could be classified as not having the capacity to make decisions. People who are not conscious are unable to make decisions on their own, and outside parties must provide consent for treatment instead.
Items in an The Consent Form Is
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this method of treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their risks and benefits
The dangers and advantages with refusing any treatment at all
The items should not only be documented, but they must also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. This way, he is able to fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and can get direct answers to any questions that have arisen.