Standing Prep

I have a question for my OR nursing colleagues. First a little background--I am a CRNA in private practice and the owner of a surgery center for plastic surgery. Our surgeons are excellent and have an international reputation. All of the nursing personnel are experienced and we have worked together for years.

My only problem is with one of our new surgeons (trained in the military). He wants his patients who are having lower body lifts -- primarily post gastric bypass patients who have lost a lot of weight--prepped standing on the floor beside the OR table. He wants the table drapped with sterile drapes and then have the patient climb on the table and lay on the sterile drapes. We then proceed with the anesthesia induction.

I really dislike doing this for several reasons including physiologic (patient is cold) psychologic and technical. I want to sit down and talk with him about it, but want to have a good argument in hand. My RNs are not happy with this technique either and we want to show unity in our discussion. The medical director of the facility will back us up if we have good supporting information.

My question to all of you--does anyone know the history of doing this type of prep? Is it performed for any other types of procedures? Can any of you help me?

Please don't give me any legal arguments unless you can cite case law, closed case or insurance information. It is not a legal issue.

Thanks much.

Yoga CRNA, JD