Anesth Analg 2001;93:1544-1545
© 2001 International Anesthesia Research Society
ECONOMICS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH
Patient Threats Present an Ethical Dilemma for the Anesthesiologist
John B. Pollard, MD,
Michael W. Brook, MD, and
Audrey Shafer, MD
Departments of Anesthesiology, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
Address correspondence and reprint requests to John B. Pollard, VAPAHCS, Anesthesiology Service 112A, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Address e-mail to John.Pollard{at}med.va.gov
IMPLICATIONS: Patients who receive sedation occasionally divulge thoughts that they would not usually express. This report describes a sedated patient who threatened to murder two family members. Immediate consultation with an attorney and psychiatrist is recommended when the anesthesiologist may be required to breach patient confidentiality to warn potential victims.
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