A 55-year-old man is set to undergo electrode implantation surgery to treat severe Parkinson's disease. Three days before the procedure, the surgeon goes through the specifics of the procedure, including the risks and advantages, as well as alternative treatment choices. The patient signs the permission form after expressing understanding of the talk. However, on the day of the surgery, in the preoperative room, he feels apprehensive and anxiously confesses, "I'm afraid I can't do it, doctor. I apologize. I no longer want to get the procedure." Which of the following is the best course of action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: In order to continue with any non-emergency medical treatment, informed permission must be granted voluntarily. In this example, informed permission was given three days before, yet the patient now refuses the procedure. Patients can revoke their permission at any moment. It is the physician's job to engage patients in a new discussion of informed consent or informed refusal when they change their views and refuse treatment.
This patient's reservations regarding the surgery were most likely not discussed or addressed adequately during the first informed consent process. The best way is to ask him what has changed and to listen to his specific worries about the procedure without pressing him to reconsent.

A 55-Year-Old Man Is Set to Undergo Electrode Implantation Surgery