Electronic confirmation of medical consent
Our proprietary, cloud-based, electronic confirmation of consent protects both patients and medical providers by ensuring that there is a clear understanding between the patient and provider regarding the medical procedure to be performed, the risks and the benefits associated with the procedure to be performed, and any alternative treatments available. Please see our walk through Provider video from a medical provider's perspective or our Patient video from the patient's perspective
Our service meets legal and ethical standards for informed consent
Pre-conditions
Competence
A fundamental legal and ethical requirement in the informed consent process involves the competence of the patient being consented. Patients that have mental impairment do not meet the legal capacity to make a medical decision due to their diminished capacity and this can (and has) been the source of medical malpractice lawsuits and litigation. The main benefit of the confirmed consent process is a well researched and validated assessment designed to test the patient’s competence.
Voluntariness
A second fundamental legal and ethical requirement for informed consent is the assumption of voluntariness. Medical providers have a duty to ensure that patients are voluntarily making a choice with regard to medical procedures and are not making a decision under pressure or coercion. Our proprietary confirmation process helps to not only ensure voluntariness of decision making, but additionally provides documentation that protects both the patient and provider acknowledging that the patient’s decision was made voluntarily.
Informational Elements
Disclosure of information
Fundamental requirements for informed consent include the disclosure of information related to all risks and benefits of the recommended procedure and any alternative procedures. Our proprietary confirmed consent method ensures, and documents, that the patient received full disclosure of the risks and benefits associated with their procedure.
Understanding of the treatment disclosure
Probably the most difficult, and least managed part of the traditional informed consent process, providers need to have some method of ensuring that their patients truly understand the risks, benefits, and other disclosure information being communicated by the provider. This is the area in which the confirmed consent process really shines. Our proprietary system uses a scientifically validated series of questions that tests the patient’s understanding of the treatment disclosure information and only patients that successfully pass the test have their consent confirmed.
Consent Elements
Decision by the Patient
Providers have a legal and ethical obligation to demonstrate in some way that the patient made a clear medical decision. Our confirmed consent process electronically documents the patient’s decision and provides this output in the form of a document provided to the both the patient and the provider demonstrating the patient’s final decision. This document protects both the patient and the provider.
Authorization to Proceed
The final step in the informed consent process is documentation that demonstrates the patient authorizes the provider to perform the agreed upon procedure. Our proprietary system documents both electronically, and on paper with the patient’s signature on the Confirmed Consent document, that the patient has clearly authorized the provider to perform the agreed upon procedure. This final Confirmed Consent document protects both the patient and provider and memorializes, electronically and in print, the patient’s final decision.