Ethical Considerations in Perioperative Care

Patient Respect and Dignity

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends confirming and using the patient's preferred name and pronouns at all times to show respect and decrease the risk of distress, particularly important for transgender and gender-diverse patients 1
The Anaesthesia society suggests protecting patient dignity by advocating for appropriate care and preventing disregard for patient dignity, which has been identified as a common issue in hospital care 2
The Anaesthesia society recommends maintaining patient confidentiality by sharing sensitive personal information only with the patient's consent and only when necessary for safe care 1

The Anaesthesia society recommends protecting patients' rights by ensuring their advance care plans and resuscitation wishes are respected and communicated to the entire surgical team 3

The Anaesthesia society suggests creating processes for patients to safely disclose personal information relevant to their care during pre-operative assessment 1

The Anaesthesia society recommends communicating all specific perioperative considerations during the surgical brief to ensure the team is aware of important patient factors 1

The Anaesthesia society suggests considering the patient's pre-operative priorities and goals of care when making intraoperative clinical decisions, especially when conditions change unexpectedly 3
The Anaesthesia society recommends implementing appropriate care measures including age-appropriate anesthesia, proper fluid therapy, thermoregulation, and analgesia 2

The Clinical Nutrition society recommends facilitating early oral feeding and mobilization to promote recovery while respecting patient comfort and independence 5
The Anaesthesia society suggests continuing the process of identifying and reducing risks such as delirium, particularly in vulnerable populations 2

The Anaesthesia society recommends consulting with hospital legal representatives when uncertain about professional and legal obligations, particularly regarding end-of-life care 2

The Anaesthesia society suggests providing specialized care for vulnerable populations such as elderly patients, who may require additional advocacy and protection 2
The Anaesthesia society recommends ensuring appropriate care for transgender and gender-diverse patients by using inclusive language and respecting gender identity 1

The Anaesthesia society recommends participating in quality improvement initiatives and audits to ensure compliance with best practices 6

Note: All the following points are from Praxis Medical Insights, if there are other sources available, they should be used instead.
The Praxis Medical Insights society recommends avoiding failing to recognize cognitive impairment by using standardized screening tools to identify at-risk patients 4
The Praxis Medical Insights society suggests preventing inadequate pain management by implementing regular assessments, particularly for patients who may not effectively communicate pain 4
The Praxis Medical Insights society recommends addressing poor communication during care transitions by ensuring comprehensive handover between care settings 4