TL;DR
Informed Consent: Voluntary agreement to treatment after receiving information about nature, risks, benefits, alternatives, and refusal consequences.
Informed Consent
Definition
Voluntary agreement to treatment after receiving information about nature, risks, benefits, alternatives, and refusal consequences.
Safety Considerations
Safety considerations for informed consent in the medical office include proper technique and universal precautions.
Subcutaneous injections: angle 45 degrees (or 90 with short needle/obese), sites include Upper arm (posterior), Abdomen (2 inches from umbilicus), Anterior thigh. Maximum volume: 0.5-1.0 mL. Needle: 25-27G, 5/8 inch.
Calculation Methods
Reference values and calculations for informed consent. CBC normal ranges:
- WBC: 4,500-11,000/uL
- RBC: 4.2-5.9 million/uL
- Hemoglobin: 12-16 g/dL (F), 14-18 g/dL (M)
- Hematocrit: 37-47% (F), 42-52% (M)
- Platelets: 150,000-400,000/uL
Practical Example
Clinical Procedure: Temperature measurement is relevant to informed consent.
Technique: Oral (under tongue, lips closed, 3-5 min), tympanic (pull ear up and back for adults), temporal (across forehead)
Normal values: Oral: 97.8-99.1 F. Rectal: +1 F. Axillary: -1 F. Tympanic: close to core.
Differential Diagnosis
When studying informed consent, carefully distinguish it from related but distinct concepts: resident rights, patient confidentiality, scope of practice. Exam questions often test your ability to select the most specific and appropriate answer when multiple options seem partially correct. Look for the option that most completely addresses the scenario presented.
Why It Matters
Tested on MA, CNA, and EMT exams.
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