Surgery Consent Form

A surgery consent form is a form provided by a hospital to a patient undergoing a surgical operation in order for the patient to permit the risky activity to be performed. The patient is presented with the risks probable to take place, which may include being disabled, losing a body part or even death. This form also protects the patient’s privacy.

Requirements on the surgical consent form

• The patient acknowledgement that they understand what they are authorizing
• The patient’s full written name
• The patient’s form list of those who cannot have access to their surgery operation details and date.
• A witness’s signature and date
• The physician’s signature acknowledging that they have clearly explained to the patient regarding their state and date.

The purposes of a surgical consent form to a patient are numerous. The patient is awarded with a chance to learn about the risks facing the surgery operation they are about to undergo. Additionally, the patient is awarded a chance to approve activities to take place during the operation and also regarding the disclosure of the treatment details to other parties.  The risks include probable damaging of organs, infection, dislodgement, blood clots, paralysis along other risks. Some surgical operations own a very high life threatening risks and the risk should not be taken if the patient or the guardian has not consented. The form gives the patient an opportunity to permit doctors to do whatever is necessary to safe their lives in case of any complications arising in course of the activity. A lot of activities take place during a surgery such as blood transfusion, a patient is required to consent to blood transfusion and which carries risks such as AIDS including other blood related infections. Surgical operations involves removal of some body parts therefore the patient destiny of their removed body parts. This restricts a patient’s removed body part from being utilized for research purposes against their will. The patient undergoing treatment has a right to state who is authorized to access to their surgical operation process. The surgical consent form gives the patent the right to privacy regarding their health documents. This form allows patients to plainly view the risks they are to undergo giving them a chance to ask questions regarding the details indicated on the form. The surgical consent form additionally gives the patient the authority to decide the personnel who should be in the surgery area during the procedure (Thompsonlaw, 2014). The item aids the patients recognize the procedure of the surgery, all together prevent them fall casualty to the needless procedures set up for additional reimbursement. The affirmation from the patient and physician, are to make certain patient is fully aware of the scale of the surgical operation, and consents to go through the surgery.

The physician on behalf of the hospital undertakes the consent procedure with the patient. They are accorded the legal position to oversee the signing. They are as well obligated with explaining every detail of the procedure to the patient. Full disclosure of the information is extended to the surgery receiver so that their can come up with an well-versed decision. This is particularly important to the patient so that no invasive procedures will be carried out (NSW, 2005). Generally, no operation, treatment or procedure may be carried out without the permission of the patient, that is, if the patient is a capable adult. Sufficiently informing patients and acquiring consent regarding an operation, treatment or procedure is a required legal requirement

and an acknowledged part of good health practice. The Surgery consent form provides a pledge to patients that health organizations will visibly explain planned treatment including considerable risks and options in way patients can realize and obtain patient consent prior to treatment, apart from emergency cases. Approval to the proposed operation, treatment or procedure must be acquired from a patient. Any failure to acquire this approval could result in legal battles for assault and mugging against a physician who partakes the procedure. The responsibility to obtain consent is separate from the obligation reveal information to a patient and cautions a patient of probable risks. In numerous court cases patients have been known to win against hospitals since the hospitals by law are required to fully disclose any information regarding a patients treatment. This has led to hefty compensations awarded by ours to the patients some even crippling the hospital’s financial capability (Thompsonlaw, 2014).

The surgery consent form is a platform for both the hospital and the patient to come to an agreement of how a surgical operation should be carried out. This form is essential since it gives the patient an opportunity to converse with the physician and weigh the risks of the operation. Additionally, this helps the practitioners perform operations to the fullest of their knowledge without fear of prosecution. The hospital also is provided with an opportunity to serve the patient within the legal framework.

References

NHS. (2014). Consent to treatment – NHS Choices. Retrieved August 4, from http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/Pages/Introduction.aspx

NSW. (2005). Consent to Medical Treatment – Patient Information. Retrieved August 4, from http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/PD/2005/pdf/PD2005_406.pdf

Thompsonlaw. (2014). INFORMED PATIENT CONSENT. Retrieved August 4, from http://www.thompsons.law.co.uk/clinical-negligence/informed-patient-consent.htm