An emergency medical consent form is a legal document that gives permission for a person to receive medical treatment in the event of an emergency. This document is crucial for people who cannot make their own medical decisions due to being unconscious or incapacitated because of a medical emergency. It also allows medical personnel to provide medical care to minors when guardians or parents are unavailable. The fastest and most efficient way to create an emergency medical consent form is by using a professionally designed template to ensure you get all the correct information on the document.
The emergency medical consent form provides information about who is authorized to make health care decisions on behalf of the patient, what treatments may be administered, and any other instructions that should be followed. Additionally, it may include information such as the contact information of the person giving consent and the person’s relation to the patient. Some emergency medical consent forms also include a provision stating that every effort will be made to allow one or more family members or friends to be present during treatment. Alternatively, some include conditions that say no relatives are allowed in the room while treatment is underway, but they can speak with the patient after treatment.
Pro Tip: Upon arrival at the emergency room, the medical staff will provide initial and primary care. However, depending on your condition, additional care may be necessary. By filling out an Emergency Medical Consent Form, you can guide your medical professionals in treating you according to your preferences and provide crucial information such as your medications, medical history, allergies, and blood type. This information can save valuable time during your initial care. Additionally, the form allows your medical professionals to obtain important details such as your emergency contacts and family members.
What Is an Emergency Medical Consent Form?
An emergency medical consent form is a document that permits doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to care for someone without being legally able to do so. It also provides vital information about known allergies and medical conditions that may affect the individual’s health while receiving care in an emergency room. It can be used by anyone taking care of someone who needs treatment but does not have legal authority over them, such as a doctor or nurse providing hospital treatment without getting consent from the patient’s parent or guardian first.
Fun Fact: In some parts of the world, citizens are required to have emergency medical consent forms with them at all times. For example, in France, people have carried a ‘carte vitale’ since the 1990s. These clever medical directives provide healthcare workers with the patient’s medical history so they can offer fast, effective treatment.
Why is Emergency Medical Consent Form Important?
Unfortunately, emergency medical consent forms are generally created after a medical emergency has already occurred. The person who recently needed medical care is more likely to fill out an emergency consent form and keep it around as a precaution in the future, but it’s better to have them in advance. Having one in place makes receiving treatment much more straightforward. More importantly, it can help avoid preventable negative interactions and even save your life in extreme circumstances. Here are more reasons why you should have one of these vital documents:
- They give consent for treatment, which allows you to get help without delay.
- They waive liability for the medical staff so they can perform necessary treatments.
- These forms typically contain data about pre-existing health conditions, the medications that you are on, any special instructions for staff, and any allergies or other vital information that should be communicated to the providers in case they arise during treatment.
- They typically name an emergency contact who can give additional permissions to the medical staff as needed.
- They protect your rights and help ensure your wishes are respected.
Did You Know: Having an emergency medical consent form is all about your rights as a patient, so get familiar with what that means. You can refuse specific treatments or types of medical intervention. In fact, you can even refuse all emergency medical help, though it’s not recommended.
Essential Elements of Emergency Medical Consent Form
The essential elements of an emergency medical consent form are geared toward identifying you, providing vital medical information such as medications you take, and giving consent for treatment. Below we’ve created an outline detailing everything you need to include and why it should be a part of your document.
- Form Title- Put the words “Emergency Medical Consent Form” at the top of the page in large, bold-print letters so it’s easy to see what this document is.
- Personal Information- This section should have your full name, birthdate, address, current contact information, and the name and contact information for an emergency contact. This can be a spouse, friend, or family member, preferably one who can speak for you if you are incapacitated.
- Medical Information- List your primary care physician’s name and contact information, medical conditions or allergies, blood type and medication you take. You may also want to add a category here for supplements because some vitamins and minerals can interact with medication or cause other effects like thinning your blood.
- Consent Statements- Your consent statements permit emergency treatment, accept the inherent risks, show you understand your right to refuse and the consequences of doing so, and show that you know you have a right to request a copy of this form if it is taken from you and filed to show you gave consent. Leave room to check or initial after each one to prove you agree. Remember, you can refuse, modify or remove these statements, but it is vital to understand the consequences before you make that decision.
- Patient Signature and Date- When you sign and date the form, it shows you consent to share this information with medical providers and agree to whatever you have included on the form.
- Parent or Guardian Signature and Date- If the person carrying this is underage, a responsible adult must also sign the form.
- Witness Signature and Date- Choose a reliable witness who can watch you sign the form. A lawyer or doctor is an excellent choice, but any adult who is legally capable of forming their own contracts (most people) will suffice. Doing this provides added weight to your consent. You may even have a notary public witness the form if you prefer.
Pro Tips For Using Your Emergency Medical Consent Form
No one likes to think about getting in an accident or having any emergency medical problem, but creating an emergency medical consent form for yourself and your loved ones can help. Here are a few important things to keep in mind when you make your document:
- Accessibility- Having an emergency medical consent form is not enough. You need to carry this document on your person at all times. To borrow a military term, it should be part of your EDC or EveryDay Carry equipment. Please put it in your wallet or purse, and don’t leave home without it.
- Accuracy- Medical information is complex and full of industry-specific terms like names of medications and diseases. Always double and triple-check your information and watch out for similar-sounding words such as Amicar and Omacor. One of those examples is a hemastatic (blood) medication, and the other regulates lipids. Conflating the two could cause serious difficulties. Take the time to ensure your data is correct and current.
- Copy- Make multiples of your emergency medical consent form. Keep physical copies on your person and in your vehicle. You may also want a spare at work or with your paperwork at home. You can also back up your digital copies in the cloud, so the information is easy to reprint if you lose it.
- Share- Give a copy of your emergency medical consent form to your doctors, and consider giving one to a trusted friend or family member as well. Doing this will help clarify your medical wishes when (if) you cannot do so yourself.
- Medical and Legal- If you have any concerns or questions about your emergency medical consent form, talk to your doctor or an attorney.
- Review and Revise- Whenever there are changes to your health, such as starting or stopping a medication or undergoing any treatment, make sure you review and revise your document. Please safely dispose of the old ones by shredding them and replacing all outdated copies with the new version. Even if nothing has changed, it’s wise to do an annual audit of your consent form to be sure it’s up-to-date.
- Recommend- Even if you cannot legally provide your friends and family with emergency medical consent forms, talk to them about it and show them how easy it is to fill out this template. You can help protect them by being a good example.
FAQs
Emergency medical consent forms can save lives, but only if you have them. To help you make the most of your emergency medical consent form template, we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about this topic below. Here you will learn more about when these vital documents expire, whether you can use them internationally, and other helpful facts.
Having an emergency medical consent form is crucial, even if you have a living will or healthcare power of attorney. The emergency medical consent form allows healthcare workers to help you. It will also enable you to designate a third party to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so yourself. This document helps ensure that your wishes regarding medical care are carried out in an emergency, even if you cannot communicate with them. It is important to note that an emergency medical consent form does not supersede a living will or healthcare power of attorney. It is a supplemental document used in addition to them.
Emergency medical consent forms and HIPAA authorization forms are not the same. Emergency medical consent forms allow medical personnel to provide medical treatment or services in the event of an emergency where you cannot give other forms of consent due to incapacitation. These forms typically grant medical personnel permission to provide treatment or services without specific direction from a patient or patient representative.
HIPAA authorization forms, on the other hand, are used to grant permission for a healthcare provider or covered entity to release a patient’s protected health information (PHI) to other individuals or organizations. HIPAA authorization forms must contain specific language as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
In most cases, emergency medical consent forms do not have an expiration date. However, it has limited scope in some instances, such as when a document is needed for a specific event or activity. For example, if a parent signs a permission slip for their child to participate in a school field trip, an expiration date may be listed on the form to indicate when it ends or must be renewed. In general, however, most emergency medical consent forms do not have an expiration date and are considered valid until revoked by the person who signed them.
Emergency medical consent forms cannot be used for non-emergency medical treatment. Emergency medical consent forms are legally binding documents typically used only in life-threatening situations where patients cannot provide informed consent due to their medical condition. A non-emergency medical treatment does not require this type of document because the patient is awake, aware, and in control of their mental faculties.
You can easily ‘cancel’ an emergency medical consent form by disposing of it. Likewise, you modify it by creating a new version to replace the previous directives. However, it is essential to retrieve all prior copies to ensure these changes or revocations are noted. For example, if your doctor has a copy, you will need to ask that they return it, or you may even need to provide written revocation of the original document for their legal records.
An emergency medical consent form is generally not required for minors, as parental or legal guardian permission is typically assumed in the case of an emergency. However, depending on the healthcare facility and type of treatment required, a parent or legal guardian may be required to sign a consent form in advance. Additionally, states have specific legal requirements for consenting to medical treatment for minors and adults, which may vary. You should check with your state’s health department to determine what conditions and laws apply to your situation.
Emergency medical consent forms cannot be used internationally. Each country has its own unique laws and regulations regarding medical consent forms, and these forms must be tailored to the specific requirements of the country in which they are being used. Additionally, some countries may require additional information or documentation to be included on the form to be valid. Therefore, checking with your consulate, an attorney, or another specialist is essential.
If you do not have an emergency medical consent form during an emergency, medical professionals may be legally unable to provide further medical treatment or care to the individual in need. Without a signed consent form, doctors may be unable to determine who has the legal authority to make decisions regarding the individual’s health care. If the patient is a minor, a parent or guardian must provide permission for treatment, which requires the consent form. Additionally, without a signed consent form, doctors may be unable to access medical history and have to guess potential allergies or relevant medical conditions which is crucial for your treatment.
In most cases, an emergency medical consent form must be signed by a legal guardian or another person with legal authority to decide on behalf of someone unable to consent. This could include a parent, spouse, close family member, doctor, or court-appointed guardian. A medical power of attorney document may also be necessary. Other identification, such as a driver’s license or birth certificate, may be required depending on the situation and legal jurisdiction. The person signing the consent form should have knowledge of the patient’s health history, treatment preferences, and any allergies or other medical conditions that could impact safe, effective medical care.
Final Thoughts
Emergency Medical Consent Forms allow medical professionals to administer medical treatment in emergencies. These forms are often used when the patient cannot consent due to unconsciousness or other incapacitating conditions. The consent form typically includes information on the patient, such as their name, date of birth, and emergency contact information. It also provides a detailed description of acceptable emergency medical care, acknowledges any risks associated with the treatment, and waives liability for those administering aid. By choosing a high-quality emergency medical consent form template, you can create a customized legal document to help keep you or your loved ones safe in a medical emergency.
