Re: Radioactive Seeds/Surgery without consent!
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon Sep 16 07:27:31 2002
At Sat, 14 Sep 2002, dollbabi wrote:
>You don't appear to be well informed about medical procedures. Radiation seeds are used in breast cancer (for women) and also for heart operations (men and women). You have also exaggerated the precautions about infants and pregnant women. It is only EXTENDED, CLOSE contact that might be unsafe.
Why is it that just an RN's accountable to report other procedures? The
anesthesiologist (M.D.) is also there, as is the assisting surgeon ,
also an MD.
>When radioactive seeds are put in they are first sterilized in an
>isolated, controlled environment. There are between 70 and 120 seeds
>put in depending on the size of the PROSTATE. This is high dose
>radiation extending to a small area. They are left in indefinitely,
>they are only removed if the patient experiences such severe side
>effects that warrant removal. For 2 months the patient is not to be
>around kids under the age of 18 months or pregnant women. Fact is that
>although very potent, they only reach a small area within the body. If
>they are implanted in a woman, could there be a systemic reaction?? The
>answer to that is not available because women DO NOT have prostates,
>therefore radioactive seeds have no business being implanted in a woman.
>Doing so would be totally experimental as well as dangerous, considering
>that her fertility could be lost by doing so!
>When a patient signs a consent for surgery, they sign for the procedure
>being done and any emergency surgery that would be necessary to save the
>life of the patient. They are not signing for experimental treatment,
>they are not asking to become lab rats, and they are not asking the
>doctor to play trial and error! There is supposed to be a Registered
>Nurse in the OR that reports any extra procedures being performed
>without the patients consent immediately to the hospital administration.
>This is part of her responsibilities!! She can be held accountable for
>not doing so.
>I don't know much about statutes and things, just about the medical part
>of things. Just sharing some facts.
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