Question

The Patient Bill of Rights is a list of what patients have as rights when it comes to being under the medical field and knowing what personal medical information will be exposed to healthcare workers. It is the rights of the patient when the patient gives out medical information and to keep that information safe. The patient must sign an informed consent that is a document signed by them that is accepting the medical or surgical intervention. The nurse’s role when it comes to consent is, “to have safe, considerate and respectful care, provided in a manner consistent with your beliefs”, (National Institutes of Health, 2019). Yes, the nurse can provide the consent, but the patient’s beliefs override what the nurse thinks that patient should do with their medical information. The patient is aware of what situations need to be done but they are wise enough to make their own decisions. The nurse has told them the pros and cons to inform the patient about the informed consent and the patient makes their decisions based on that.

Please read the passages and give a response for the thought

If the patient refuses to sign, that is it. The nurse may add more information of why it is necessary to have an informed consent to inform the patient but never to persuade the patient. “To refuse to participate in research, to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of these actions, including possible dismissal from the study and discharge from the Clinical Center. If discharge would jeopardize your health, you have the right to remain under Clinical Center care until discharge or transfer is medically advisable”, (National Institutes of Health, 2019). This alone provides that the patient is not to be forced to sign any informed consent if the patient chooses not to and if it needs to be sign then the nurse needs to let the patient’s primary care provider know. The nurse can only do so much in their scope of practice and all they can do is ask the patient for their signature based on the evidence provided for the informed consent. The only ways to manage the issue is either informing the patient of why the informed consent is right in front of them without persuading. Or contacting higher up management and/or the primary care provider to let them know that the informed consent is not going to be signed. It is never right to force the informed consent on a patient and that is what the patient chooses to do regardless on what the nurse believes the patient should do.

Answer 1

Informed consent , it is a part of ethics , principle is that the patient have the right to know what to expect and to know what is going to be done in his/her body. The informed consent is necessary for most of the invasive procedures. Consent should be given by the patient without any pressure and it can be withdrawn if the patient is willing. It may include the rationale for the treatment, risks , benefits, alternatives and the effects when the procedure is not done.

Every conscious patient has the right to refuse the consent and treatment. If he/she refuses, do not proceed with the treatment or procedure. The treatment without consent is punishable under law. First the nurse should come to know why the patient is not ready to consent , whether it is just a fear to sign the consent or he/she is not willing for the treatment, or is it some aspects of care. The explain the patient  why this form is necessary and try to increase the patients concern. Tell him/her more clearly about the treatment plan in his/her language. And also try to know about patients preferences. Nurse should document about the informed refusal of the patient.

If the patient is refusing a life saving treatment, nurse should contact the risk manager or institutional legal department, and proceed with the treatment without a completed consent form.