Communication in Surgical Practice - Sarah J. White

Communication in Surgical Practice - Sarah J. White

Chapter 5 Breaking Informed Consent: Strategies for Risk Communication in Surgical Practice

Communication in Surgical Practice - Sarah J. White

Maria R Dahm [+-]
Macqaurie University
Early Career Research Fellow Department of Linguistics
Israel Berger [+-]
Roehampton University
PhD Candidate, Psychology Roehampton University

Description

This chapter examines risk communication strategies used to obtain informed consent in surgical consultations. Drawing on recordings of 37 interactions collected in the consulting rooms of a colorectal surgeon, two particular types of strategies are presented and discussed: 1) Set pieces used to relate risk information about more ‘routine’ procedures such as colonoscopies; 2) Breaking informed consent – a more unique strategy employed by the observed surgeon in more demanding situation such as the discussion of ‘big’, potentially life-changing surgeries. Particular attention will be given to breaking informed consent as a communication strategy that incorporates communicative features of breaking bad news into the information and consent process. This chapter argues that the communicative act of obtaining consent can in fact be modeled as a type of breaking bad news. By taking advantage of this overlap, the surgeon is able to draw from a wider range of communication resources to establish rapport and trust and to build a strong relationship with patients and their families ‘before the wheels fall off’. Implications for surgical training will be sketched.

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Citation

Dahm, Maria; Berger, Israel. Chapter 5 Breaking Informed Consent: Strategies for Risk Communication in Surgical Practice. Communication in Surgical Practice. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. p. 94-123 Mar 2016. ISBN 9781781790502. https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=26407. Date accessed: 29 Mar 2024 doi: 10.1558/equinox.26407. Mar 2016

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