Informed patient choice: patient-centered valuing of surgical risks and benefits.
The risks and benefits of any health care intervention are valued differently by stakeholders. One of the ethical imperatives of patient-centered care is the balanced, evidence-based presentation of risks and benefits by providers to patients. Using the example of musculoskeletal surgery with devices, we advocate the use of shared decision-making tools and processes known to improve knowledge, adjust unrealistic expectations, and elicit values about benefits desired and the degree of acceptable risks for individual patients. We describe feasibility and efficacy within our organization and address ways to foster the further adoption of this approach.
Weinstein
James N
JN
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. james.n.weinstein@dartmouth.edu
Clay
Kate
K
Morgan
Tamara S
TS
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D009513:New Hampshire; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000941:ethics; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*