[MsVickie]

I am going to put a link to a great page to view on informed consent.
Informed consent - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Since this has been a hot topic on the boards lately.

I have taught college. I have taught Law and Ethics. So I do feel I know Alot about this. Im also a nurse whom on a daily basis sets with the surgeon I work for in a office giving informed consent. If We have a patient that does not seem to be worried about any of this I have to explain to them what it means. If at that time the surgeon or myself feels the patient does not fully understand what is going to happen we delay the said surgery until we feel fully assured that the patient or the family understands.

Lets put some of this into Layman's terms. This is when your Surgeon..... "Im using this because this is a weight loss forum and most of us are contemplating WLS or have had it"..... Tells you the risk. They also tell you you may die. They explain to you the complications of this surgery. They tell you most complications of this surgery don't show up until later. They tell you will have to follow directions and adhere to them.
Then its up to YOU to make the decision that is right for you.

Then at some point....ususally the same week or the same month of your date they will explain this to you again...... Hand you a legal document stating such to sign that you are FULLY AWARE of the said complications of this surgery and that you agree to have it done anyways. They will also tell you in some cases if they find in this case your gall bladder to be diseased they will take it out in the process. They do not have however the permission to do so without telling you they will. Then on the day of the surgery you will sign a legal document stating you understand all the risk again and then sign another paper attesting to that. Did you know the anesthesiologist is a Dr also? They have every right to stop the surgery if they feel you do not fully understand the complications and the results. If you did not go through the proper test so they feel you will be OK going under anesthesia or waking up from it. And even if they feel you surgeon may be negligent.

Anyone researching this surgery needs to do just that research it. Research your surgeon. IF you don't like what you find...... go to another.

I personally feel unless you have contemplated this surgery, had it done, or in the process of doing so..........you have NO IDEA the feelings, the stress, the emotions that go into this. We are given tools the whole time from the day we walk into the PCP's office and ask the question to the day we have the surgery. Then after. Its a very disiplined decision.

I hope this helps someone. If this surgey fails me........if I die from this I dont need a lawyer to represent me. This was my DECISION. I have told my family this also. I asked my surgeon how many people left his call after they has this done. He smiled at me. And then said lady you know your stuff . Then the answer that was givin to me was None. What this means is this: If any of his patients felt they did not get good treament... were neglected, not listened to or anwsered and felt they needed to change their care to another physican that does the same procedures because they felt they had to. I didnt feel that any of the questions that was asked of him offened him in any way. If they did he sure wouldnt be doing my surgery.

Research , ask questions, talk to people who have had this done. If you talk to people who havent contiplated this you will get hit with negativity.
Find a Dr you are willing to put your life in there hands. If you dont find it with the first one, go to another. I did!

[Kenyar]

WELL SAID MS. VICKIE!

[DocSanae]

Be well aware of what you are getting into.
This is no easy journey.
Unfortunately, though, as the number of the surgery increases by leaps and bounds, there are people who will come looking into this as the "easy way out", which, those who have had the surgery, or are close to it, having done extensive research and soul searching as well, know well enough that there is NO easy way out, and it takes a lot of self dicipline to suceed in using the tool, which is just what this surgery is. There will always be people who will misuse this tool, no matter how much they are warned about it. It is a tool and only a tool.

Along with the increase in the number of patients receiving this surgery, and with the number of long term patients increasing as well, a lot that was not clear, say, 10 years ago, is becoming more clear now, and where there was almost no comprehensive support system 10 years ago, all the responsible surgeons and bariatric centers now have extensive pre-op and long term post op support systems, as well as tons of online boards like this. As a matter of fact, one of the points you need to consider in choosing a surgeon is whether the support system they have is good, and something you feel comfortable with.

If you are contemplating this surgery, then do a lot of search and research. Never be afraid to ask questions, no matter how trivial they seem, nor how stupid they seem. If you don't understand the words, any words that the surgeon and his staff uses in explaining everything about this surgery, ask them to explain in words that you can understand, and ask them to explain again and again until you are very sure you understand. Don't worry that the surgeon and staff will get impatient with all your Qs. It is in THEIR best interest, as well as yours, that the patient and surgeon/staff are in complete understanding and agreement, as that is the best weapon against unwanted results. Granted the surgery itself is not an easy procedure to do, and complications do happen, but if you are on good accord with the surgeon and staff, and know what you need to watch out for, the quicker problems will be dealt with, and have favorable results.

DO NOT SKIM over the papers you are given, because you are impatient to get on your way, read through every single word for as many times as you need to, to understand, and be sure that all your i's are dotted, all your t's crossed.

These things can never be stressed enough.
This is YOUR LIFE that is at stake, and as such, you have a responsibility to take the lead into your hands, not leave it up to the surgeons.

((((((((HUGS)))))))) May your journey go well.

[MsVickie]

Doc for every surgery I have ever had this one will be counting six .....my surgeons physically read me the consent and ask that I read it. This has been various surgeons at different facilitys. Then on the day of surgery the Dr physcially reads it to me again along with the anestheloigist.

The surgeon I work for does this also and I have to reread it. They are given a the orginal sheet to read. They sign then I will give them a copy of this on the same day. This is also stated at each Psych eval that is done.

If you go into a surgeons office to talk about WLS and they dont scare the begesus out of you somthing is wrong.

Now this might be differnet for other countrys and I can only state what I have personally been through here. I think part of the waiting game is to make sure this is what you really want to do. There is alot of thought that goes into this.

[DocSanae]

It is that way in most places now, but it wasn't that way before.
This is one of the reasons paperwork for the drs to go through has increased by tons in the past 30+ years that I have been practicing medicine.

MisVickie, your being a nurse makes you aware of what all this is about, but there are those who are not. And, unless you have been through one kind of process or another, then if you are a lay person, you may not be aware of what actually should take place. Also, there are people who have the surgery done abroad for financial reasons. They may not get the same information and reception you have been able to with your own drs. So, everyone needs to be reminded that it is within their right to demand whatever information there is, and not shy away from asking.

You are correct in saying that something is wrong if the surgeon doesn't scare the begesus out of you. As a matter of fact, if a surgeon does not refuse to give a date to a patient who quite obviously isn't ready, that speaks a lot about the surgeon, too.
And I also agree with you that part of the waiting game is to make sure that you understand what you will need to do on your part to succeed. Keeping to a program during that period should enable you to aquire the attitudes you need to to aquire new habits, and to give you time to do a lot of research.

I know that everyone who is on board here, who's had the surgery, or are about to, are all aware of this.
It is those who have just started out on researching this method to control their lives that I would like for (and you will agree with me on this, I hope) to be prepared for what they need in order to move ahead and succeed.

[MsVickie]

I do agree with you Doc. That is why I ALWAYS stress the importance of this when someone ask. I am here to support and be supported.

[LittleLisaMarie]

As a Registered Nurse for 15 years and a patient of 14 operating room surgeries/procedures I think this is great info . I have had surgeons and have worked for surgeons and each varies on this topic. The most important thing I think you said was to research your surgeon, if you dont like him or her move on dont settle. This is your life, you have to make the decision.

Thanks for sharing.

LittleLisaMarie