A patient scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy asks the nurse why a surgical consent for a laparotomy must also be completed. How should the nurse respond?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By signing a surgical consent for a laparotomy, the patient is acknowledging that they understand that there is a possibility that the surgeon may need to make an incision to complete the procedure. The initial plan is to perform the laparoscopic procedure, but surgical plans can change based on intraoperative findings. Therefore, it is important to have consent for both procedures to ensure the surgeon has options and the patient is fully informed. Option A is incorrect because it is not ethical to imply that the patient is signing unnecessary consent forms. Option B is partially correct, but it does not address why a consent for a laparotomy is specifically necessary. Option C is incorrect because it is not a valid reason for obtaining a surgical consent for a laparotomy.

A Patient Scheduled for a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Asks the Nurse