Posted , 5 users are following.
I was not given the opportunity to view the informed consent for cataract surgery. This was done by the cataract surgeon online without showing me the document. Has anyone else been asked to agree to such an informed consent?
0 likes, 11 replies
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RonAKA judith93585
Edited
I can't remember for my first eye, but for my second eye I paid an extra $300 to get a Clareon lens that was not covered by public healthcare at that time. I had to sign a form in that case to acknowledge that I did not have to pay the extra $$, and if I selected a standard lens (AcrySof IQ), I would not have to pay the extra charge.
judith93585 RonAKA
Posted
Thanks for your reply. I was thinking of the type of informed consent that you get before surgery for example which might list what can go wrong, etc.
RonAKA judith93585
Edited
I checked my records and the document I signed was called "Agreement for Enhanced Medical Goods & Services". It basically says that I understand a standard version of the IOL has been offered at no extra charge, and that the enhanced product I am paying extra for is "not medically necessary", and that I will actually pay them!
judith93585 RonAKA
Posted
Thanks Ron, sounds like informed consent not to protect the patient but the doctor...
RebDovid judith93585
Edited
I should think informed consent protects, and is designed to protect, both the patient and the surgeon. At any rate, an ophthalmologist who follows the American Academy of Ophthalmology Refractive Surgery Preferred Practice Pattern will "be informed of the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to and among the different refractive procedures before surgery. The informed consent process should be documented, and the patient should be given an opportunity to have all questions answered before surgery. The surgeon is responsible for ensuring the patient’s informed consent." The document, available on the web, goes on to identify twelve "elements of the discussion" that should be included. Interestingly, one of the suggested elements for discussion is "Monovision advantages and disadvantages (for patients of presbyopic age)". Of course, I don't know the extent to which ophthalmologists adhere to the AAO's preferred practice pattern regarding informed consent.
maura04015 judith93585
Edited
For me this is the kind of thing where I speak up and say, "I'm not signing that until I read the consent form I'm agreeing to." I haven't had cataract surgery, but I have been in that situation with other medical procedures. I don't sign anything in any situation unless I've read it and am willing to live with the terms. If that annoys people, tough. With medical it can be difficult. We need to services and their terms are definitely slanted in their own favor.
Lynda111 judith93585
Edited
Are you in Canada or USA.?
In USA, you must give signed informed consent before any surgical procedure can be done. I signed such a paper.
judith93585
Posted
That's been my experience as well. I can certainly request a copy. That said, I feel uncomfortable under the circumstances.
Lynda111 judith93585
Edited
As I recall my surgeon verbally informed me of the risks of cataract surgery
She mentioned. possible retinal detachment, infection, etc. That was a few weeks prior to surgery. On the morning of surgery just after I showed up at the surgery center, I was given a consent form to sign.
RonAKA Lynda111
Edited
One of the issues that my surgeon did not warn me about is PVD. It happened to me in both eyes about a year after surgery. When I reported it to him as advised by my optometrist, he very abruptly said that it was a result of my age. I never accused him of anything, but he seemed to assume I was. After that I found a study that found the probability of PVD one year after cataract surgery was over 7 times higher than those who had not had surgery, after other factors like age was considered. There was nothing he could do about it however. But, if they fully disclosed the risks, PVD should be included as one... It does not impact my visual acuity, but it certainly is annoying, and it really has not gone away as my optometrist tells me it should.
judith93585 Lynda111
Posted
Thanks Linda. That might be what happens here as well.