MBA, RN, CNOR, director of surgical services at UPMC St. Margaret
in Pittsburgh, Pa., adding that the surgeon is always given the option
to cancel the case. If the surgeon decides to go ahead, the patient's
refusal is documented and an alternative, such as placing a wristband
on the side of the procedure, is initiated. Several readers mention
armbands, wristbands and stickers as preferred alternatives if patients
refuse marks.
But several others, recognizing the chronic danger of operating on
unmarked patients, say that when a patient refuses to be marked, they
refuse to cut. What do you tell those patients? "You, my friend, may go
home," offers one physician, "and pretend you had surgery." OSM
E-mail jburger@outpatientsurgery.net.
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