Consent form to dental treatment, and patient rights
Three types of consent form.
Written consent
It’s a piece of paper unless its read , understood and its appreciated. Written consent form is signed by a witness ( dental hygienist and the client or his/her representative). The value of obtaining a written consent is to prove that a consent was obtained if a challenge arise. A written consent is not a complete defense when problems arise. It is required an informed consent to make sure that the clinician is on the safe side
Informed consent form
Involves the meeting of minds between client and clinician. Consists in informing the client regarding the findings, and gives the opportunity to the client to make his own decisions regarding the treatment plan suggested by the clinician. It’s the clinicians duty to provide information and make recommendations that will enable the client to make informed choices.
Verbal consent
If a written consent is not obtained from the clinician than a verbal consent is enough as long as it is written in the treatment records in details.
Determination of capacity
All clients are assumed to be capable of decision making therefore capable of signing a written consent. When there are reasons to doubt the capability of the patient then an assessment of a client is made to assure that he is really in able to give consent.
Substitute decision makers
When a client results incapable from the assessment then a third party is required to give consent. These third parties are considered substitute decision makers. substitute decision makers include: relatives or official institutions that deal with this situations like The Public Guardian and Trustee.
Patients chart
All the clients have the right to obtain a coy of their treatment chart.
A client can authorize another chart to obtain his chart
For clients that are incapable of decision making his/her decision maker can obtain the clients chart copy at any time. Reasonable fees an be applied to the client
What happens to the clients records when a Dentist or a dental hygienist leaves a dental practice?
When leaving a dental practice its Dentists or Dental Hygienists responsibility to make sure that the client can have access to his/her chart information
They can either make a copy of the clients records or make sure that the records left behind at the previews office will be maintained for the required period of time and these records will be available to you at any time if needed.
Keep in mind that the dentist owns the paper where the information is written, but he/she doesn’t own your actual information.
The personal information and the treatment record that the dental chart includes belong to you and no one else. There are measures that a dental professional has to take when leaving an office in ensuring that the patients chart is secure
and safe. ( Eg: deciding to quite working, leaving the country etc ) No matter what arrangement your dentist or hygienist takes they should by law let the patients know about these arrangements and make possible that they have access of these records at any time.
What’s the act that protects a client’s personal information?
Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004
How long are your records kept in a dental office by law?
Personal Health Information should be kept for at least 10 years, This includes paper work, electronic records and digital photographs.
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