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Should I Know All Details About The Pain Stimulator, Anesthesia Before Undergone A Surgery?

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Posted on Thu, 16 Aug 2012
Question: Can a Doctor that is do surgery on chenge the plan of my surgery the day of surgery thoughtout telling. And can the Doctor tell a Medtronic Rep. to check my health Ins. I would like to know this. Because when I had my surgery the doctor and staff had me wide awake thoughtout my surgery. The reason was so I could tell them where the lead are for the pain stimulator that was being put in me. The surgery went well, but there was a problem that I don't not know until 5 hour later. This is when the doctor that did the surgery on me told me that he changed the plan on my surgery , and i asked why, and he said that he had a the Medtronic Rep. check my health Ins. and told me that there was a $5,000.00 dollar different in cost between the type of pain stimulator i wanted, but then he told me that the Medtronic rep. check the wrong Ins. The doctor said he found out about after the surgery was over, is this right, or should the doctor waited until he talked to me first before he even cut on me. And the Medtronic Rep. did even tell me of any changes even when he saw me in recovery , when he was adjusting my pain stimulator, this to me is dishosent to me as the patient right. I was not told of any changes before my surgery even when the doctor and medtronic rp was talking to me while the doctor was doing surgery on me is this not right. Pelase let me know what the code of ethic s is for a doctor and patient, and should there been a new consent signed between doctor and patient., and should have the medtronic Rep asked the patient for a signed consent before the Medtronic rep check me Ins.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mayank Singh (1 hour later)
Hi XXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on healthcare magic
It is highly unfortunate that such incidences happen in todays era of medicine and that too in developed countries like USA and I'm really sorry to hear that you had to undergo this pain.
There is a document known as informed consent form prior to any surgery or procedure which you must have signed prior to the surgery.All details of the procedure including the type of implant (pain stimulator) and details of the procedure with the kind of anaesthesia and associated side effects and complications are mentioned in the language understandable to the patient.If there was some commitment of using a specific more expensive pain stimulator then on changing the plan the patient and his relatives need to be informed with the proper documentation regarding the same.Also if there was some issue which was because of the insurance coverage then also the discussion about the same needs to be prior to the procedure and needs too be cross checked by the doctor himself.
I would not say that it was wrong in doing the procedure with you awake as that is many times important for the procedure.
I hope I have answered all your queries.If you have any further doubts feel free to post again and I'll be happy to help you again
God bless
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Mayank Singh (4 hours later)
I sign a consent for the doctor to put in a type of pain stimulator that we all agreed upon, and signed a consent for this, but in surgery the doctor put in a different size and type without asking me or my wife, rememmber I was wake throughout this hole surgery because the doctor and medtronic Rep had to ask me questions. remember that the Medtronic Rep. check with e wronge health Ins. and the doctor already had a perautherzion from the VA hospital to dothis, but the doctor had this Rep from Medtronic to check my Ins. and he check with Tri-care and I did not have Tri-care ever. and the doctor told me and my wife this and said he was sorry, Question should he have waited on my surgery until he had everything right. The doctor should have not did surgery on me, and he should have said something to me when I was getting ready for him to do surgery on, and and the surgery staff did their TIME-Out to make sure this was the right surgery and everthing was what it was to be for this surgery. Please reply backto me, because I don't believe you understood the first question.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mayank Singh (48 minutes later)
Dear XXXXXX
I have totally understood your point mentioned before as well as in this post of yours.
It was incorrect and unethical on the part of the doctor for not cross checking the insurance himself prior to the surgery .Secondly if there was any doubt regarding the insurance it should have been confirmed with you or your family before or during surgery. If insurance was not covering adequate amount for the expensive pain stimulator they should have taken an informed consent for this changed version what was not asked to you .Since your insurance would have covered it in any case it was a mistake on the part of your doctor.
But ill tell you one more thing ,even doctors are humans, though i donot accept this behavior and unprofessional aspect of your doctor
Ill suggest you to talk to your treating doctor personally regarding the same issue.
i hope now all your doubts are clear.You may post again and ill be happy to help
God Bless
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Mayank Singh (4 hours later)
Dr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
My name is XXXXXXX doctor, I want to thank you for your in-put. Dr. XXXXXXX I have been seeing this doctor that put this in me, and Medtronic Rep. since 2006 when I found out that there was a better way to handle pain like RSD it was a GOD sent to me and my family. Dr. XXXXXXX The reason why I did not want the regular Restore in me , it was because of the last one had to be taken out for it was catching under my 12 rib, this is why we I mean my wife and and the doctor agrred to have this new type of Medtronic pain stimulator put in me. It is bad that a doctor and a Medtronic Rep that has treated me for ove 7 years, and then turn around and do this to me. Can you tell me if the medtronic was at fault in any of this. Dr. XXXXXXX I would have stop the surgery to get this all rightend out, but no the doctor is say he did this in my best interest this is what makes us upset, he is saying only after we filed a complaint on him, and the hospital staff is believeing him on what he said ( I did this in XXXXXXX best interest). How can a doctor live with himself and continue to work with his patient and go to sleep at night. Dr. XXXXXXX I am have a hard time trusting in doctor now. Ever since this happen I have been trying to find away to see way he did this to me. Yesterday at church I began to cry, and then after church I told my pastor I feel toldly lost with not way out. I don't know but I now with my PTSD I have problem like this. I feel like the doctor that did surgery on me , I feel he rip put of me away by lieing to me and my wife, and losing trust in one person I should trust the most. Dr. XXXXXXX I am a veteran.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mayank Singh (6 hours later)
Dear XXXXXX
Im really sorry to hear this and the pain that you are undergoing due to some treating doctor of yours .I wish such incidences donot happen with anyone on this planet and doctors who are considered to be trusted the most , should not back stab the patients by intention.What i would like to tell you is that if the doctor has deliberately harmed you he cannot go to bed in peace .See the medtronic rep was at fault that he did not contact the right insurance and did not communicate the right detail to the doctor.The doctor was at fault as he did not cross check the insurance details what was told to him and also that he did not communicate with you or your wife.I understand your pain and i wish i could share some of it to make you feel better XXXXXXX ill give you a personal advice as a friend .You may file a complaint against the doctor or the rep but any doctor should not or cannot do such a thing deliberately to harm his patient.To make you feel better , the only alternative is to let it go and be at peace.I hope that whatever implant has been placed , though it is not what you wanted to get done , is giving you a relief from the pain and is serving the purpose.Don't lose trust on people like doctors .Not all are the same and every doctor is a human too , but the choice of further line of action is totally individualized and yours.
God Bless you
Regards
Dr Mayank Singh
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Mayank Singh

Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 85 Questions

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Should I Know All Details About The Pain Stimulator, Anesthesia Before Undergone A Surgery?

Hi XXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on healthcare magic
It is highly unfortunate that such incidences happen in todays era of medicine and that too in developed countries like USA and I'm really sorry to hear that you had to undergo this pain.
There is a document known as informed consent form prior to any surgery or procedure which you must have signed prior to the surgery.All details of the procedure including the type of implant (pain stimulator) and details of the procedure with the kind of anaesthesia and associated side effects and complications are mentioned in the language understandable to the patient.If there was some commitment of using a specific more expensive pain stimulator then on changing the plan the patient and his relatives need to be informed with the proper documentation regarding the same.Also if there was some issue which was because of the insurance coverage then also the discussion about the same needs to be prior to the procedure and needs too be cross checked by the doctor himself.
I would not say that it was wrong in doing the procedure with you awake as that is many times important for the procedure.
I hope I have answered all your queries.If you have any further doubts feel free to post again and I'll be happy to help you again
God bless