Who Must Sign A Surgical Consent Form – Everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their medical care. Medical procedures can be demanding, and therefore patients should be able to determine in light of known risks, how their bodies will be treated. In order to ensure that medical professionals can provide treatment to patients they must obtain what is known as informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement that requires that a patient be provided with specific information regarding his or her physical health and the treatment suggested by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. After receiving this information patients must provide the physician with consent to treat prior to any form of care can be provided. Without the patient’s informed consent an health care professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In certain situations patients don’t have the capabilities to fully understand the options for treatment and the risks/benefits associated with each one. In other instances patients may not be able communicate their decision to health care professionals. If this happens patients are said not to have adequate capacity to make decisions. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, will then be permitted to perform informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – such as anxiety or fear, for example – may be determined as not able to make decisions. People who are not conscious cannot make decisions on own, and outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Who Must Sign A Surgical Consent Form
Certain elements are generally included in informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical condition/diagnosis
The recommended treatment is suggested by the physician in charge
The risks and advantages associated with this procedure
There are alternative treatments offered, as are their benefits and risks
The dangers and advantages with refusing treatment at all
The items should not only be recorded in the documentation However, they should also have a discussion with the patient. This way, he she will fully understand the details of the situation and will receive immediate responses to any queries that might be arising.