Re: Interesting info I saw the other day...

[Guest guest]

Hi e,

I would like to see a copy of the Informed Consent, which you referenced. We have a couple of DFW - TX plastic surgeons who have their owe "Informed Consent", and would be interested in comparing them.

Thanks always,

MM / NSIF

Martha Murdock, DirectorNational Silicone Implant FoundationDallas, Texas Headquarters

----- Original Message -----

From: cvrn8@...

Cc: SalineInfo

Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 1:57 AM

Subject: Interesting info I saw the other day...

Ladies, I wanted to let you know that I was working in the recovery room on Tues and I ended up taking care of a woman who had a simple modified mastectomy with tissue expanders placed for implants. Knowing that I have to maintain professionalism at all times, I couldn't say anything to her about her decision to have implants placed and what a stupid decision she had made. I was also mad because the anesthesiologist brought her out in total pain, and her orders were very conservative for pain management. So I was trying to medicate this woman every 5" with morphine and fentanyl to get her pain under control. Finally, after 20mg morphine and 150mcg of fentanyl, she was much more comfortable and resting nicely. In the meantime, I was reading her chart and reviewing orders, etc, when I came across the consent and info the doc provided to her about saline implants. Now, ladies, try not to fall out of your chair, but this was one of the best, most thorough consents I've ever seen. It was about 6 pages long and went through all the controversy, and the relationship that breast implants have to connective tissue diseases, etc. But what suprised me was it also included a paragraph about the chance for implants to rupture, and that the saline often grows bacteria and other organisisms, so if the implants rupture, the body would be exposed to contaminated saline, which could potentially cause severe infection. The whole tone of the consent was almost like it was trying to talk someone out of getting implants. It was the very first one like that that I'd seen. It was provided by the surgeons office. I was rather pleased that it addressed all the issues and didn't downplay anything. However, I got mad again at this woman who signed it anyway and was (in my mind) making the biggest mistake of her life. But I can't say anything-I just have to smile and tell her she'll be okay. But I want to tip my hat off to the doc who provided this consent as it really didn't hide anything and told it like it was. I had to wonder if he was reading our posts and info!!!! So, I guess I can hope that some docs will follow suit and provide all this information to mastectomy pts as well as women getting implants for cosmetic purposes. It would be a step in the right direction. e