VAC Consent Form Canada Sample – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. The medical procedures can be invasive, so patients should be able to determine in light of known risks that their bodies should be treated. Therefore, before medical workers are allowed to provide treatment to patients they must obtain the process of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal condition where a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition and the treatment recommended by the treating physician. Once this information is received the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of care is administered. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider cannot offer treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations the patients aren’t equipped with the capabilities to fully understand their treatment options , as well as the risks/benefits of each one. In some instances patients might not be able to communicate their decisions to the health workers. If this happens the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity to make decisions. A family member or court-appointed representative, in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as not having the capacity for decision-making. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an VAC Consent Form Canada Sample
Certain elements are universally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical conditions/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the acting physician
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments that are available, as well as their risks and benefits
The risks and benefits associated with not accepting any treatment whatsoever
Not only should these details be documented, but they must also been discussed by the patient. So, he can be fully aware of what is happening and get straight answers to any queries that might be arising.