Helping with the dialogue for informed consent
The discussion about informed consent following the tragic story of Michael Skolnik was very insightful. It is the physician’s job to obtain the consent after explaining the procedure, the alternative choices along with the pros and cons. It is a meaningful dialogue where the patient and the family members have the option to clarify their doubts and even have the option of seeking a second opinion.
It was worrisome when scenarios like mailing informed consent to the patients, letting physicians make the decision, and not provide a consult before the signing of the informed consent for certain procedures in some contexts were brought up. This does not appear to be heading in the right direction because the meaningful dialogue or parts of the dialogue are not taking place and the patient’s level of comprehension about the risks and benefits are being overlooked. This got me thinking how I could… Continue reading
The power of story
Storytelling is a great way to learn , connect, empathize and remember about an iincident for a lifetime. When we look at just statistics or plain charts and data, even though they draw your attention with regards to severity of a given situation they however fail to leave a lasting impression. This maybe because They present a very impersonal account. However, when someone tells you a story, they draw you a picture with words, they convey the strong emotions they have undergone and draw you into their lives by sharing something very personal and private. They not only connect to your heart and gut but also leave a mark on your mind.
We kicked off our event with two powerful stories told by the surviving mothers of two patients who were victims of sentinel events. These stories were excellent learning opportunities. They were scary, but yet inspiring to do a… Continue reading