Be Informed About Chiropractic Informed Consent: Secure Your Practice Against Legal Challenges | Chiropractic CEU Posted on Oct 05, 2023
Be Informed About Chiropractic Informed Consent: Tips to Secure Your Practice Against Legal Challenges
CCEDseminars | We Have You Covered For Chiropractic CEU!Chiropractic Informed Consent as Risk-Management Insurance
Chiropractic informed consent acts as an added layer of protection in risk management. Inadequate or missing informed consent could lead to legal complications and financial burdens for your practice.
The Importance of Assessing Risks and Benefits
The term “Standard of Care” governs our actions in the healthcare field. In chiropractic practice, scientific evidence and best practices must guide our decision-making processes for evaluating the risks and benefits of treatment options.
Legal and Ethical Underpinnings of Informed Consent
The law mandates informed consent in healthcare, stemming from the 1914 Schloendorff vs. The Society of the New York Hospital case. Ethically, it ensures patient participation in understanding the risks and benefits, thereby making an educated decision.
Key Elements of Chiropractic Informed Consent
Documentation of informed consent must include:
- Nature of the procedure
- Risks and benefits of the procedure
- Reasonable alternatives
- Risks and benefits of alternatives
- Patient’s understanding of the above elements
Addressing Informed Consent for Minors and Special Cases
For patients under 18, parents or legal guardians must give informed consent, termed “informed permission.” Certain exceptions like emancipated minors are there, and the specifics may vary by state laws.
Protecting Your Practice from Legal Challenges
Ensure your informed consent documents are comprehensive, clear, and tailored to your patient’s level of understanding. The documentation should indicate a two-way conversation and culminate in a signed agreement to proceed with the treatment.
Chiropractic Informed Consent: An Imperative for Practice Safety
Risks associated with chiropractic treatment are generally low. However, it’s crucial to provide clear, understandable information to patients about all potential risks and treatment alternatives, thus fulfilling the true essence of informed consent.
Conclusion
Including risk management, compliance, and ethics in your practice policies isn’t just legally sound—it’s also good business. Following the appropriate federal and state guidelines in your chiropractic informed consent procedures can offer an additional layer of protection against financial and legal setbacks.
Resources for Continuous Learning
To enhance your understanding and application of chiropractic informed consent, consider enrolling in chiropractic CEU courses. CCEDseminars offers a variety of courses that can help you stay updated on the latest best practices in chiropractic care, including the critical area of informed consent.
References
- Hall v. Hilburn, 466 So. 2d 856 (Miss. 1985).
- “Informed Consent,” Parth Shah, Imani Thornton, Danielle Turrin, John E. Hipskind, StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.2021 Jun 14.
For more information on chiropractic CEU courses and how to better secure your practice against legal challenges, visit CCEDseminars.