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How Much Information to Give?

How much information should be given to patients prior to anaesthesia. Some of our colleagues give a lengthy list of potential complications (including death) to low risk patients having minor procedures.......


Thanks to "Squiz" for the comment below.


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By Squiz on 05:47 AM, 08/02/2008


Telling an ASA 1 patient that they might die for simple surgery is nonsense. (Telling the relatives of an ASA 4 patient having major surgery they may die is more to the point.) The list of anaesthetic complications fills a large book. You might as well give the book to the patient. And while you're at it, get them to sign a disclaimer and, like an insurance company, bank or software company, refuse to provide the service if they haven't signed to say that they have read and understood the terms and conditions.

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