Page 21 - 2022 Risk Basics - Anesthesiology

SVMIC Risk Basics: Anesthesiology

and the patient/representative understood the information

discussed.

Ideally, the informed consent discussion should be
documented in both the patient’s chart and in a separate

anesthesia consent form that is signed by the
patient/representative. Unfortunately, anesthesiologists do not

always have the benefit of access to the patient’s chart to

document the informed consent discussion for the anesthesia
care. Therefore, the accuracy of the anesthesia consent

document form is essential.

Informed consent for anesthesia should be conducted by a
physician member of the anesthetic team and should be

separate from all other categories of informed consent

needed. An anesthesia-specific document should be
7
developed by hospitals and practices in order to highlight the

importance and significance of the anesthesia procedure.

The discussion and documentation should include:

 The anesthesia plan

 Any associated risks and benefits specific to the

anesthesia plan

 Any alternatives, any associated risks to the alternatives

 Potential modification of the plan

7 In certain limited settings such as epidural placement for labor analgesia, CRNAs often conduct the
informed consent discussion. A good rule of thumb is that the practitioner who will be performing the
anesthesia procedure should be the person who conducts and documents the informed consent
discussion.

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