The word ‘surgery’ came from 'chirurgiae', which means ‘hand work’. However today in medical specialty, the term surgery incorporates uses of operative manual, various computerized instrumental techniques along with hand work on a patient for surgical procedure. The surgical operations are performed maintaining a standard with the best of his ability and capability by the surgeon without any problems or complications and the same is true in most surgeries in various hospitals. But, every year some patients complain of unnecessary harm to health and life due to performed surgical errors. Sometimes the damage caused is repairable and does not give rise to any long–term effects side by side. In some other cases, the negligence results in permanent disability or even a fatality.
All operations naturally carry with them a certain level of risk and there are also specific risks of each different procedure.
Each and every case where there may be problems during or following an surgical operation, risks should be carefully explained to a patient before the procedure goes ahead
An informed choice about having surgery and the possible complications must be explained in a language, which the patient/legal heirs fully understand. Failure to do this may constitute negligence in itself.
The Delhi Medical Council has reiterated in many cases about informed consent.
No comments:
Post a Comment