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Describe the 4 major components required to establish that a case of negligence has occurred. Describe how each relates to the surgical technologist in the scrub role.
Duty: In the scrub role, the ST has a duty to the patient, must make sure to perform the job according to the standard of care. The defendant must have a duty to the patient.
Deviation: The defendant did not follow the standards of duty. The ST in the scrub role did not follow the accepted standards thus violating their duty.
Direct Cause: In the scrub role, the deviation would have to have caused harm to the patient. Thus the negligence was a direct cause of harm to the patient.
Damage: There would have to be damage or harm caused in order for the case to be considered negligent.
Analyze the 4 types of consent: general, informed, expressed, and implied. Explain the difference between general consent and special (informed) consent processes.
General: Provides permission to treat the patient.
Informed: Implies Voluntary and competent permission for a medical procedure, test, or medication.
Expressed: Required for treatment that involves surgery, experimental drugs, or high-risk procedures; verbally or written.
Implied: Patient's actions imply consent w/o verbal or written expression of consent.
The patient must be given and understand the risks and the benefits of the surgery, as well as any alternatives.
Review the AST Code of Ethics for Surgical Technologists. In the course of your career, describe the behaviors and actions that should be practiced by an ethical surgical technologist. Which code, behavior, or action is the most important to you?
Respect others and work as a team, protect patient and patient rights, always follow asepsis, continue education, practice willingly with pride and dignity, do no harm. Adhere to code of ethics is most important since it means to follow all the above at all times.
If a surgeon or staff member requests that you perform a particular skill during a surgical procedure, how do you determine if it is within your scope of practice? Which document supersedes all others (must be followed)?
Review hospital policy and state law to review the accepted standards. Review AST professional standards of practice. Make sure it is reasonable for a person who has similar education, training, and experience. Then determine if you are willing to accept the responsibility for the procedure and the possible consequences making sure to do no harm; "Am I competent?"
What is time out. and how is it important to the quality patient care provided by the surgical team? List 3 errors or incidents that could potentially occur if the time out was not performed.
Time out is a last minute checking process prior to surgery/incision which protects the patient and staff. Possible errors include having the wrong patient, having the incorrect surgical site, and marking the incorrect extremity for surgery.
