| Glenn - USAEyes.org 2005-11-30, 1:02 am |
| >Glenn, if a physician wants to do an off label procedure he is required
>to explain to the patient that the procedure is not FDA approved and
>obtain a special informed consent to proceed. How many refractive
>surgeons really do this?
Every one who does not want to get sued out of existence if something
goes wrong. Also, malpractice insurance carriers have informed consent
requirements that cover off-label use. Virtually every surgeon of all
specialties do off-label procedures. They are common and the informed
consent process is common.
>Informed consent for refractive surgery is such a joke - lack of
>consent for an off-label procedure is just another piece of
>information a patient deserves to know and isn't told, yet another
>breach of medical ethics.
If a patient receives an off-label elective surgical procedure without
prior consent and something goes wrong, then that patient may have a
legitimate claim against the surgeon. Of course, if nothing goes wrong
then there is no legitimate claim.
Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
USAEyes.org
"Consider and Choose With Confidence"
Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org
http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
I am not a doctor.
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