JohnBenson

Recently my wife was in for an outpatient surgery. It was her first time under GA. Although the medical staff was first rate and all went well I was taken aback when it came time for her to be discharged and I was not permitted to stay and assist her. Instead still groggy she was sent to a bathroom to get dressed. Further she listened to the discharge instructions but remembers nothing she was told. Luckily she has me and we got her set up at home. So perhaps when the patient has been moved to phase 2 it should be fine to have the caretaker present. A number of states have addressed this in so called no patient left behind. In NC not only can a appointed caretaker be with the patient in PACU but in pre op also at the patients request. I think these institutional hardline approaches are outdated and it looks like the state legislatures are going to do it for us. It’s a pity because in those situations it’s never what anyone wants.