(form )

[Fr. forme fr. L. forma, form, contour, figure]

The distinctive size, shape, and external appearance of an object.

arch f.The shape of the dental arch when viewed in the horizontal plane.

consent f.A legal document, dated and signed by a patient and his or her health care provider, designating that the patient has been advised about the care about to be received.

The document should specify the nature of the care and its proposed merits and hazards. If the care involves an invasive procedure, the document should provide enough detail about the procedure so that a reasonable person can decide whether it is in his or her interest to proceed. The material risks of the procedure, and consequences of not undergoing the procedure, should be listed. Alternatives to the procedure should be enumerated. Any special terms or conditions should be explicitly stated in the document. The form should include the name and title of the practitioner who provides the information to the patient. The document becomes valid when it is dated and signed by all parties.

declination f.A legal document that signals an individual's intent to refuse a recommended treatment, e.g. a requirement for vaccination of health care workers against influenza.