Hi ginnie,

Well... I can't answer why you were not told the full extent of your neck problem. I do know that not everyone likes or wants to know all of the details of their diagnosis or the details of the procedure. Sometimes, the procedure is scheduled to go one way and then there is a complication which can alter the treatment mildly or significantly. To explain every detail to a patient who is anxious or in pain, can cause unnecessary worry or even throw that patient into an emotional frenzy. For instance, to describe the procedure of the BFP Graft to Jedi would have been unnecessarily worrisome for him and others reading it ... that's why I didn't explain it on here.

Also, frequently what happens when we do explain a procedure to a patient.... the patients version or interpretation of the actual procedure when describing it to someone else is a bit misconstrued. Perhaps that is due to fear at the onset and they didn't quite hear what they were told..... or perhaps they just imagined what had happened and liked their version better. Who knows??

On the flip side...... other than a life threatening emergency where the patient is incoherent or unconscious ... I believe the patient should be informed prior to the treatment the general pros and cons of having it done, the possible systemic health risks and be offered the information on all other viable options.

~~~~~I believe every person has the right to be informed.... whether they want to be or not ~~~~~

Bryanna