title: How much information do patients want or need.
abstract: Based on literature and personal experience, this paper address the question of how much information patients want or need prior to surgery. It underlines the importance of not only answering patients' questions but also making them aware of information available, to help them go through this difficult process. Aspects such as obtaining a second opinion and use of the Internet are also covered.
authors.affiliation: Cabinet de Chirurgie Viscérale, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland, givel@cabchirvisc.ch.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Givel
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meier
mesh_terms: D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics*; D020407:Internet; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D066231:Surgeons / Q000941:ethics; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000941:ethics*