5 Elements Of Informed Consent

Informed consents serve as legal acknowledgments of a medical procedure, as many people associate informed consents with an actual document, informed consents are defined as a dialogue between the physician and the patient. An informed consent safeguards the health care institution and physician; while providing an opportunity for the patient to initiate their autonomous rights. In this paper, I will discuss the five characteristics associated with a consent form regarding a blood transfusion. I will explain how each element is noted within the actual form itself, how an informed consent provides lawful protection for a physician and the patient.
There are five elements of an informed consent which includes “adequate disclosure of information, decisional capacity of the patient, the patient’s
comprehension of information, voluntariness (freedom from coercion), and consent of the patient” (Bustillos,2013).
In evaluation of the provided informed consent for a blood transfusion; adequate disclosure of information was enclosed according to the five standards required.
The form properly abreast subjective standards including the reason for blood transfusion and providing information pertaining to the origin of the donating facility. The professional community standard illustrated in the document provided an overview of the complications and adverse reactions of the blood transfusion. The document provided a designated area for patient consent to the proposed treatment and area where the patient could sign to deny treatment.
The ability for a patient to make decisions is one of the five characteristics of the informed consent. The patient must demonstrate they can make informed decisions and they are able to comprehend what is being stated to them. There are occasions where patients may be irresponsive, mentally incapacitated or a minor; In these situations, a surrogate decision-maker may decide treatment options on behalf of the patient. The informed consent for blood transfusions provide a section where the patient/authorized surrogate or power of attorney may
sign.
Another element of an informed consent includes voluntariness; voluntariness ensures the patient is not being forced into treatment or forced to abstain from treatment. Voluntariness could stem from coercion, persuasion, and manipulation. Voluntariness may include acts to misguide the patient, or not informing the patient of all treatment options. Voluntariness preserves the patients’ autonomy or ability to make their own decisions.
The excerpt under the consent for blood transfusion is where the patient would accept or reject the blood transfusion.
The informed consent serves as a legal document for patients and physicians; the purpose of an informed consent is to provide the patient with an overview of the procedure, what the procedure entails, and any adverse reactions that may be associated with the procedure. From an organizational standpoint, Informed consents help organizations maintain compliance and regulations and relives the organization of liabilities associated with a procedure or in most cases protect the organization from malpractice lawsuits.

Bustillos, D. (2013). Understanding health care ethics & medical law. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUHACA322.13.3 Braude, H., Kimmelman, J. (2012). The ethics of managing affective and emotional states to improve informed consent: autonomy, comprehension, and voluntariness. Bioethics 26, (3) 149-156. doi doi:10.1111/j.1467-8519.2010.01838. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=9a37a58e-3735-435e-9692-16e53a101d50%40sessionmgr101&hid=122