Emma needs another central line - the previous Broviac became infected. She has recovered from the infection enough to undergo a repeat surgery. Yesterday, the surgeons and the anesthesiologist called for consent. As they read the standard consent form to me, I heard myself repeatedly saying, "Yes, I understand", but, in my head, I only heard the final risk factor - it played itself over and over, and I just waited for them to utter it, to actually speak it, to make it clear, with no uncertainty ... just get to it already!!! With each item on their standard form checked off, I thought it would be the next one ... but, no, there was more. Allergic reactions (death), infection (death), respiratory issues (death), blah (death), blah (death), blah (death) ... The teacher from Charlie Brown or Snoopy or whatever the proper way to refer to that particular ... Peanuts, that's it! The teacher from the Peanuts cartoon made herself more clear to me than the three doctors and three nurses I had to give consent to on the phone yesterday. So I have come up with my own "Standard Consent Form" - I may very well print it out in large bold letters and pin it on her isolette:
"Yes" - I give consent for you to, once again, cut into my daughter's tiny body, putting her at risk of all the above. Because, if you do not do what you need to do, then she may well suffer from all of the above - and ... (wait for it) ... even death.
The irony of this conundrum is not lost on me.
No comments:
Post a Comment