Tracheostomy Consent Form – Every person should be able to make educated decisions about their health. Medical treatments can be quite sensitive, so patients must be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks that their bodies should be treated. Thus, before medical personnel are allowed to treat patients, they have to obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition under which a patient is provided with specific information regarding his or her physical state and the treatment suggested by the treating physician. Once this information is received patients must offer the physician consent to treat before any form of care is given. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional cannot provide treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations, patients do not possess the capacity to comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In some instances, patients may not be able communicate their choices to health workers. Under these circumstances patients are said to not possess adequate capacity for decision-making. Family members or a court appointed representative then, is allowed to take over informed consent.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. Those who are unconscious clearly cannot take decisions on their own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Tracheostomy Consent Form
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed 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 procedure
Alternative treatments are also offered, as are their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with refusing any treatment at all
These details must not only be documented in a written document However, they should also communicated with the person receiving the treatment. In this way, he or is able to fully comprehend all the details of the scenario and receive direct responses to any queries that might arise.