Page 29 - OB Risks - Delivering the Goods (Part One)
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SVMIC Obstetrics Risks: Delivering the Goods
would not have undergone a procedure or taken the medication
if they had known about the complication of something more
minor.
If using an EHR, the practitioner can use automated reminders
and prompts so that when a procedure is scheduled or at a
designated point in the third trimester, the physician is alerted to
complete an informed consent discussion. Additionally, the EHR
can prompt the physician to make sure appropriate resources
are available and printed out for the patient at that time. Some
EHRs may include a pre-programmed default which documents
the material that was given to the patient, that a full discussion
of the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives of the proposed
medications or treatment took place, and that the patient gave
full consent. However, if default language does not include
the details of the conversation, such as the specific risks and
benefits discussed, the physician should add this information to
the documentation.
Lack of informed consent can make a defense difficult when a
physician experiences a complicated delivery with an adverse
outcome. What follows are two examples of these types of
difficulties:
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