In both frequency and severity, neurosurgery ranks among the top three medical specialties in malpractice claims. While most medical specialists experience an average of one claim every five years, actuarial data shows that neurosurgeons experience one claim every two years. Experts such as attorneys and malpractice insurance carriers emphasize reducing risk by communicating, and documenting the risks, benefits and alternatives to the procedure a patient is about to undergo. No program is risk-free. But physicians can reduce risk with a strong informed consent program documenting that patients were given information needed to make an informed decision. To assist members in this critical task, AANS is now offering the AANS Guide to Informed Consent. The Guide explains what informed consent is, how to head off problems before they become malpractice claims, the role nurses and other staff play in the process and how to make your medical records valuable in defending a claim. The Guide also comes with a disk containing sample neurosurgical informed-consent documents that can be personalized for your practice. The debut edition of the Guide contains these sample consent documents:
Cranial
- Craniotomy for hematoma removal
- Craniotomy for depressed bone injury
- Craniotomy/craniectomy for resection of the injured brain
- Surgical placement of spinal fluid shunt
Spine/Peripheral Nerves
- Anterior cervical discectomy
- Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion
- Anterior cervical disecectomy with fusion and internal fixation
- Anterior cervical disectomy (with fusion/fixation-combines _all of above three)
- Cervical laminectomy for cervical stenosis
- Cervical foraminotomy
- Lumbar spine surgery
- Surgery for peripheral nerve entrapment
Tumor
- Craniotomy for tumor removal: the supratentorial tumor
- Craniotomy for tumor removal: the infratentorial tumor
- Transsphenoidal surgery for the removal of pituitary tumors
Order the AANS Guide to Informed Consent at https://www.aans.org or call (888) 566-AANS (2287), ext. 539. Mention order #766. The cost is $250 for members and $300 for non-members.