Ventilator Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make educated decisions about their medical care. Medical procedures can be injurious, and patients must be able, in the end, to decide according to the known risks, how their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are allowed to treat patients, they need to receive the process of informed consent.
Informed consent , a requirement in law is the condition under which a patient is provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition and the treatment recommended by the treating physician. After receiving this information the patient has to give the doctor their consent to treat prior to any form of care can be given. Without informed consent from the patient, a health care provider cannot provide treatments.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations, patients do not possess the capacity to comprehend their treatment options , as well as the risks and benefits that come with each. In other cases, patients may not be able to convey their preferences to health workers. If this happens it is believed that the patient to lack the appropriate 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, as an example could be classified as not possessing decision making capacity. The ones who are asleep clearly can’t make decisions on alone, and external parties need to consent to treatment instead.
Items in an Ventilator Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition or diagnosis
The treatment recommended by the doctor in charge
The risks and benefits associated with this procedure
Alternative treatments are available, along with their benefits and risks
The benefits and risks associated with not accepting any treatment at all
These details must not only be recorded in the patient’s medical records, but they must also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he or can be fully aware of the details of the situation and receive direct responses to any questions that may have arisen.