Informed consent and extended operations.
This article concerns the extended operations or procedures where during an operation, previously agreed between surgeon and patient and while the patient is anaesthetised, the surgeon realizes that further or totally different measures should be, or may be taken. In this contribution the author defends a strict point of view concerning "extended operations". If during the operation, the surgeon discovers that other measures should be taken, he may proceed if there is an emergency. A more pragmatic view would violate the right to self-determination.
Vansweevelt
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Institute of Health Ethics and Law, Faculty of Law University of Antwerp, Belgium.
D003657:Decision Making; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors