VACcine Consent Form Template – Every person should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able decide in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. Therefore, before medical workers can be able to treat their patients, they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
Informed consent constitutes a lawful condition in which patients are informed of his or her physical condition and the treatment recommended by the acting physician. Once this information is received the patient must give the doctor their consent to treat before any form of care is provided. Without the patient’s informed consent any health professional is not allowed to provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases the patients aren’t equipped with the knowledge to fully comprehend their options in terms of treatment and the potential risks and benefits associated with each. In some instances patients may not be able to effectively explain their decisions to health care professionals. In such situations, the patient is said to lack the appropriate decision making capacity. A family member or court appointed representative in this case, can perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are heavily influenced by their emotions, like anxiety or fear, as an example – may be determined as not possessing decision making capacity. Patients who are in the state of unconscious can’t make decisions on own, and outside parties are required to obtain consent instead.
Items in an VACcine Consent Form Template
There are certain elements that are commonly included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The treatment suggested by the acting physician
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their potential risks and benefits
The benefits and risks associated with accepting no treatment at all
These details must not only be documented however, they must have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or will be able to comprehend the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that arise.