Ultrasound Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their healthcare. Medical procedures can be risky, therefore patients should be able to determine from the facts about risks and the way their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals can provide treatment to patients they must be given the so-called informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal requirement where a patient is provided with detailed information about the physical condition and the treatment suggested by the physician in charge. Once this information is received the patient is required to give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form or treatment can be offered. Without the patient’s informed consent the health professional cannot offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some instances, patients do not possess the capacity to comprehend their treatment options and the potential risks and benefits associated with each one. In other circumstances, patients may not be able to effectively communicate their choices to health professionals. In these situations patients are said to lack the appropriate capacity to make decisions. The family member, or court appointed representative in this case, can make informed consent on behalf of the patient.
Patients who are influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for instance – may be determined as lacking the ability to make decisions. The patients who are unconscious are unable to make decisions on their own, and outside parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Ultrasound Consent Form
There are certain elements that are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment that is recommended by the medical professional in charge
The benefits and risks associated with this treatment
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages with refusing any treatment whatsoever
Not only must these items be recorded in the patient’s medical records however, they must been discussed by the patient. So, he will be able to comprehend all the details of the scenario and receive direct responses to any issues that may arise.
Download Ultrasound Consent Form
Gallery of Ultrasound Consent Form
