Ethics in surgery

Question 1

Who should do the informed consent process?

Answer 1

The person doing the surgery.

Question 2

What can we do if we find something unexpected during exploratory surgery?

Answer 2

One option is to see that the patient has a surrogate for during surgery

Do something that doesn’t increase the risk of the surgery (like take a biopsy)

otherwise, let the patient recover from anesthesia and do another informed consent

Question 3

What can we do about the poor patient who’s got a surgeon doing the surgery for the first time?

Answer 3

Have a mentor on hand for the first 10 or so

Question 4

Pt needs lifesaving surgery but has a DNR.

Answer 4

DNR doesn’t mean don’t treat. It means don’t resuscitate.

Best to address the DNR with the patient before the surgery.

Question 5

things we have to report

Answer 5

gunshot wounds

complications that happen in surgery, whether they’re going to be found out or not.