Patient Safety
Surgery & ER
En Español | Before entering surgery, be sure to:
Review the consent form: read it carefully, making sure what it says is what you want to consent for.
Check that the following is correct: your name, date of birth, procedure to be done, and part of the body where the procedure will be done.
If you are undergoing a scheduled surgery and are anxious about the anesthesia, some anesthesiologist can be reached out the night before, which can provide you some comfort.
When Admitted in the ER
Be sure that you really need the procedure. Ask the medical attendant to explain you what the pros and cons are and if there are any other alternatives.
Sign the consent form in order to be treated, but cross out the clause that says you agree to pay no matter the cost. If presented with an iPad, ask for a paper copy, or alternatively make a “battlefield consent form” yourself with any piece of paper, stating that you consent to be treated, and to be responsible for reasonable charges not covered by insurance, up to two times the Medicare rate. By law you are not required to sign the hospital ER’s consent form, although they might deny treatment.
Alternatively you can download a wallet card sample of the Consent to Treatment here.