Wrong side/omitted procedure

[Ayvah]

Had a question for you all. I recently had surgery and while in the preop holding room, was given a consent form to sign. This consent form had the wrong side and omitted one of the procedures. I notified the nurse of these issues who told me that she couldn't get the consent form changed nor could I speak with the surgeon until I was in the anesthesia room. She said I was required to sign the errant consent form before she could move me down to the anesthesia room. If I didn't sign, I could not have the surgery.

I felt at a loss so I signed the consent form with the wrong side, and omitted procedure, then moved down to anesthesia where I spoke with the doc and got the consent form rewritten and signed (prior to me being given anesthesia).

I had also figured that once I got on the table I could make sure I was positioned to ensure they were doing the correct side, but I was given anesthesia while being wheeled into the room, and my last memory is of entering the operating room, so I was out before I was transferred to the OR table.

I had a few questions for you all. I was wondering how often consent forms have the wrong side listed on them? I was also wondering why I was required to sign an incorrect consent form before I was allowed to speak with the doctor? I was really concerned that they'd accidentally use the bad consent form in the surgery And is it usual to be knocked out before even being put on the OR table?

[Ayvah, RN]

I would suggest reading all the replies and you would notice that the common theme is " why did you sign the consent." Regardless of the fact that I've been a member of one month, you had seven years of membership or five years as a nurse to realize that you have to be an advocate. If you can't advocate for yourself, then how can you do for others. That was my source of frustration. Seek your answer with the Director of Surgery at the facility...not here. Enough said.....done with the entertainment.

All the other posters here have nailed it and I thank them all. The post by goats'r'us shows that this is a policy at some places and not just a 'new nurse' thing, so I will be calling the hospital to discuss my concerns with them as this policy can potentially lead to future patient harm. Some of my other questions were answered here and are not a problem now that I understand it (i.e. versed), so by gathering information here first, I can now have a clearer, more effective conversation with the hospital regarding their policy.

If you take the time to read the other posts here and on other parts of the boards you can see how things are very different when you are a patient vs being the nurse, and to see how policies vary widely between hospitals, and how perspectives vary widely between people. What's obvious to you as a OR nurse may not be obvious to me as a non-OR nurse and patient in pain. Likewise, things obvious to me may not be obvious to you.

I agree I should not have signed the consent form, that I don't dispute. I'd figured I could put my foot down if needed when I saw the doc but didn't think of some of the things others here have mentioned, such as an unexpected event such as a code messing that plan up. That's the great part about these boards, you can get information, new perspectives, support and advice from fellow nurses who 'get it', and can use what is gained here to better our own nursing practice. Its an amazing community and I'm saddened that you think this is not the place to 'seek answers'.

[Goobstress]

Absolutely NO!!! The patient cannot scratch out and re-word the consent. Absolutely not legally accepted in a court of law. Plain and simply consent has to be re-written, signed and witnessed along with the doctors order and interval or updated H&P. Plain and simply a legal issue to CYA.

[MereSanity]

I had this issue today (made me nuts)... Patient came down for surgery on LEFT leg...consent (made out on floor) says RIGHT leg (not like he didn't have a gunshot and wound vac already on the left leg but whatever)...anyway...pre op nurse crosses out "RIGHT" and writes "LEFT" after it is noted (by someone else) the consent is wrong...I come to pick up the patient and tell them I can't accept this consent this way (they initialed it too)...still...sloppy consent some lawyer would love to rip apart....now...instead of helping me get going on this (getting new consents signed) they argued with me and searched their policies for 10 minutes because "we always did it this way". So here is what I am asking....where can I find the legal "rules" for proper consents? Thanks!