WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for March, 2003: Re: Informed consent for medical students to practice pelvic examination

Re: Informed consent for medical students to practice pelvic examination

From: Abby (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 10 Mar 2003 13:11:30 -0600 (CST)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: mags: "Re: ovulation interference and xanax"
Previous message: anonymous@obgyn.net: "Women helping Women"
In reply to: Audrey: "Informed consent for medical students to practice pelvic examination"

At Fri, 7 Mar 2003, Audrey wrote: >
>>I would like to know how explicit people think medical students and
>physicians should be with patients when it comes to student involvement
>with healthcare for educational purposes.
>(shortened)
>When a hospital consent form says medical students may be involved in
>care is it really necessary to also orally consent and explain
>specifically to patients that that may mean a student could perform (for
>example) a pelvic exam for educational purposes, especially when the
>patient knows she is at a training hospital?
>
>Is the form not enough? Is it possible women may not know exactly what
>student involvement means (whether the student will be observing or
>performing procedures) and so it needs to be specified better by
>physicians in addition to patients signing a consent form where it's
>mentioned?
>
>Any insight on this matter would be great. I'll keep track of postings,
>but can also be reached by e-mail: Audrey.Warren@wsj.com, or phone:
>212-416-2339.
>
>--
>Audrey Warren
>Reporter
>The Wall Street Journal

>Audrey,

Patients vary in literacy ability, and others may simply not read the form. Many otherwise informed individuals may or may not understand they are in a teaching hospital, and what that means precisely even if they do know. Some may assume the student is "observing", not doing the exam or procedure. I'm assuming from what you've written that the patient's physician has performed the operation and the students you refer to are simply doing a follow up exam under supervision, not solo.

Patients need to be completely informed and understand who is doing what at the hopsital. I think any hospital would be quite foolish from a liability standpoint if something went wrong for the patient and they had not explained to the patient beforehand in a way they could understand. Generally, the better the communication, the less likely there will be a lawsuit- I'm surprised that this fact isn't so well known.

I avoided having a hysterectomy done at a teaching hospital because I didn't want a student doing the procedure. As it turned out my case was rather complicated and I was thankful to have a surgeon with 30 years of experience, which is what I was paying for.

Next message: mags: "Re: ovulation interference and xanax"
Previous message: anonymous@obgyn.net: "Women helping Women"
In reply to: Audrey: "Informed consent for medical students to practice pelvic examination"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: