I am scheduled for my fourth TURB and went through suprise pre-op testing and lots of paperwork yesterday. I feel like I am sinking in quicksand and there is no one around me on firm footing to help pull me up. I am just a number 64 and a gender female who needs to just go through their protocol without asserting my needs or concerns in the equation because urologist, nurse and office staff are overly busy. I feel we are all just a bunch of cattle in the reception and payment area of the doctors office waiting to be roped in and branded. “This 64 year old female presents, with a history of recurrent bladder cancer, now presents herself for a cystoscopy.”
Is going to a University affiliated medical center really the best place for us to go? Have you really read the document “Consent to Surgery or Medical Procedure” that is given from that type medical practice and hospital? A University affiliated medical center is a Teaching Hospital. We, as the subject, consent to on-the-job training and sign to abstain any and all involved in any problems that may occur during the course being taught at the time. An intern may perform the surgery or procedure rather than your own surgeon. We can be filmed, recorded, our tissue and all other materials can be used as a teaching tool but we have no rights to any of it and it does not become part of our medical record.
To Wit: All but statement 4 are paraphrased below. All statements on the form are prefaced by the words I UNDERSTAND or I AUTHORIZE OR I ACKNOWLEDGE
1. … Risk, complications, alternative methods of treatment and prognosis have been fully explained to me.
2.… addition to the particular risks of this procedure other risks include blood loss, brain and nerve damage (including paralysis, loss of function and coma), infection, cardiac arrest and death which are risks inherent in the performance of any procedure.
3. ………my physician may discover unforeseen or unexpected conditions, which require additional procedures………..I authorize my physician and such associates……..I waive any obligation……..to stop or delay …to obtain additional consent.
4. I UNDERSTAND THE FACILITY IS A TEACHING FACILITY AND THAT AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY AND UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE STAFF PHYSICIAN(S), PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, RESIDENTS, FELLOW, SURGICAL ASSISTANTS AND/OR REGISTERED NURSES MAY PERFORM IMPORTANT ASPECTS OR SIGNIFICANT TASKS OF THE PROCEDURE, INCLUDING HARVESTING GRAFTS, DISSECTING TISSUE, REMOVING TISSUE, IMPLANTING DEVICES AND/OR ALTERING TISSUE. MY PHYSICIAN HAS DESCRIBED TO ME THESE PRACTITIONERS AND THE TASKS THEY MAY PERFORM TO MY SATISFACTION.
5. …..Describes medicine not being an exact science and there being no guarantees.
6. ……… For purpose of medical education observers and others can witness and discuss my procedure.
7. ……….. Photographs, televise, videotape recording of the procedure for educational purposes……..are sole property of the facility and will not become part of my medical record……facility may edit, preserve or destroy all or part of the photographs etc.
8. ………Authorizes disposal or retention, testing etc of anything that may be removed from my body.
Don’t think this is unique for this particular hospital or state. It is a fairly standard form I have been asked to sign at three different University affiliated hospitals in 3 different states. Prior to now, I thought the form was just to cover their ass but I learned my last TURB was performed by an intern with my physician surgeon watching and instructing him and those in the audience. It was the most difficult post op TURB of any of the prior three.
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