Essay About Dr Bold And Mrs. Smyth

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Mrs. Smyth, a 75 year old woman, is admitted to St Always hospital, in Victoria, for a (L)
hip replacement. She is anxious and worried about the operation as she has negative
memories of her late husband Geralds experience when he required surgery, a few
years previously. Her surgeon, Dr Bold, is aware of her anxieties and decides to give
Mrs. Smyth a general overview of the procedure and not to tell her of the risks. He has a
couple of reasons for not discussing this with Mrs. Smyth. Firstly, the risks are relatively
remote (that is, they are unlikely to occur) and secondly, Dr Bold is aware of her anxiety
and decides not to cause her any further worries. Dr Bold delegates the responsibility of
ensuring the consent form is completed to his resident, Dr Toms.
Dr Toms is busy the morning of Mrs. Smyths surgery and rushes into the ward with the
consent form. Dr Toms has a brief conversation with Mrs. Smyth, informing her that the
consent form has to be completed immediately. Mrs. Smyth, anxious and worried,
begins to tell Dr Toms that her husband Gerald suffered a dreadful outcome after similar
surgery and wants to know if there are any major complications associated with the
procedure in her case. She states that “Should anything go wrong, I dont want to end up
like my husband did. I have no desire to be completely incapacitated and spend the rest
of my days in a nursing home. Can you make sure my feelings are made clear?” Dr
Toms states that the operation is relatively straightforward and that it is anticipated that
she will experience a good recovery, however before the doctor can elaborate further,
her pager interrupts the conversation. The doctor says she has to leave and will return
before the patient goes to the operating theatre. In the corridor Dr Toms asks Nurse Pim
to get the consent form “sorted out”, in case she does not return before the patient goes
to theatre. Nurse Pim is particularly busy and somewhat annoyed at the doctors
request, so she gives the consent form to Nurse Flyn a new graduate nurse, to complete