CRNA : the clinical forum for nurse anesthetists
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The patient, as a health care consumer, has a fundamental right to determine what shall be done to his or her own body. The doctrine of informed consent has evolved to protect that right. ⋯ A brief history of informed consent is provided, as well as discussion of the controversies surrounding the topic. Several court cases are cited, and the opinions of various authors reflect the wide range of legal and ethical implications associated with informed consent.
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Outpatient surgery has become increasingly popular. Technical advances in both surgery and anesthesia have made the practice of ambulatory surgery safe and attractive. ⋯ The valid patient complaint of postoperative nausea and vomiting has been shown to significantly delay discharge from the recovery area after ambulatory surgery. This article reviews the numerous factors that have been identified as fostering the postoperative complication of nausea and vomiting.