Discussion on informed consent | Nursing homework help
In the given scenario, the surgical intern told the patient that he has suspected appendicitis, and the plan is to remove the appendix to prevent complications of appendicitis. The intern also explained the risks of surgery, including bleeding, infection, and damage to adjacent organs. However, to obtain informed consent, the intern needs to provide additional information, including alternative treatment options, such as antibiotics and monitoring, and the name of the surgeon who will perform the surgery. The intern also needs to explain whether he would undergo the procedure in a similar situation. According to the American College of Surgeons, the surgeon must provide the patient with the name of the surgeon who will perform the procedure and explain alternative treatment options, including the risks and benefits of each option. The surgeon must also provide information regarding his or her experience with the procedure, including the success rate and the rate of complications (A, B, and C).
Reference: American College of Surgeons. (2019). Informed consent for surgery: Its evolution and present status. Retrieved from https://www.facs.org/-/media/files/advocacy/informed%20consent/white_paper.ashx.
Regarding the second scenario, a patient is in the operating room for colectomy, and a mass is identified involving the liver. The question asks whether it is acceptable for the surgeon to proceed further to either biopsy or excise the lesion without obtaining additional consent. The answer is false. If the surgeon wants to perform any procedure not previously discussed in the informed consent, he or she must obtain additional consent from the patient or the patient’s legal representative. According to the Joint Commission, “informed consent is an ongoing process that continues through the surgical experience” (p. 3).
Reference: Joint Commission, The. (2021). Informed consent. Retrieved from https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/standards/informed-consent-advance-directives-2021.pdf