Comment by thomasfedb
5 days ago
A patient being drunk wouldn’t make it any harder for me to anaesthetise them. But if they’re drunk they wouldn’t legally be able to confirm they consent to the anaesthetic immediately prior.
5 days ago
A patient being drunk wouldn’t make it any harder for me to anaesthetise them. But if they’re drunk they wouldn’t legally be able to confirm they consent to the anaesthetic immediately prior.
Given the multiplicative effect of sedatives and depressants, do you have to factor in inebriation, for instance for a DUI in the ER? Or are the safety margins sufficient?
Generally additive, not multiplicative, and we are used to it. “Titrate to effect” is pretty standard in anesthesia, and we are watching you far more closely than average. Continuous monitoring of oxygenation, breathing, and cardiac rhythm, with no more than 5 minutes between blood pressure readings.
Can you not consent to have something done to you while drunk, while you're sober beforehand? I mean you can sign beforehand to have surgery performed while you're knocked out, that's a bit more inebriated than most sorts of drunk.