Evaluating the Patient Before Anesthesia - Informed Consent

Informed consent involves discussing with the patient the anesthetic plan, alternatives to said plan, and potential complications. This discussion ought to be conducted in terms understandable to the layperson and tailored to the patient's level of comfort. It should be conducted in the patient's native language with interpreters trained in medical interpretation. For some rare languages, it may be necessary to conduct the interview with the assistance of an interpreter via telephone. Young children must not be used as interpreters in obtaining informed consents, although adult family members may serve as interpreters if the patient signs a waiver of disclosure stating the patient chooses to waive his or her access to a hospital-appointed translator.

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.