When a patient has a DNR order and needs a surgery with anesthesia, consider discussing the revoking the DNR order temporarily or focusing on what the patient wants for quality of life.
Unrelated urgent surgery to terminal illness + DNR order = some hospitals rescind the DNR order x 24 hours with careful documentation of the time.
High quality X-ray and multiple views of the X-ray may be required when looking for a possible retained sponge from surgery.
Some surgeons believe that the patient should be informed when the sponge / instrument counts are inaccurate at the end of a case even if there is no retained objects found on X-ray.
Laws vary regarding protection from apologizing.
Negligence = failure to exercise standard of care (reasonably prudent person / same situation).
First element of informed consent, decide whether the person is competent of making decisions on behave of themselves, their child or their family member.
To honor a patient’s request to make a medical/surgical decision for them, you must have already established a relationship with the patient, no other good options, believe that the course of the option is best for the patient.
Parents disagreeing, first determine if only one parent or both parents have the legal right to give permission.
A durable power of attorney is a type of advanced directive which may include other legal issues such as financial issues.
The advanced directive of a patient trumps the wishes or demands of a family member or surrogate.
A surgeon’s fine motor skills doesn’t appear to decline with age.