What is the correct action if a patient is scheduled for cystoscopy and wrist open reduction, but the patient has only signed for the cystoscopy?

What is the correct action if a patient is scheduled for cystoscopy and wrist open reduction, but the patient has only signed for the cystoscopy?

• A. Proceed with the wrist procedure under implied consent
• B. Cancel surgery until a valid permission can be obtained
• C. Proceed with cystoscopy and wrist reduction in sequence
• D. Obtain consent for the wrist procedure while the patient is still under anesthesia

Answer: (B)

Informed consent must be specific to each distinct procedure. If a patient has only signed for one procedure, you cannot perform a second, unconsented operation. The wrist open reduction would be a separate intervention, so it requires its own valid, written consent before proceeding. Consent cannot be obtained after anesthesia has begun or while the patient is unconscious; there’s no blanket or implied authorization to perform additional procedures without explicit agreement. If this isn’t an emergency, the correct action is to cancel or pause the unconsented part and obtain proper consent for the wrist procedure before resuming.

Informed consent must be specific to each distinct procedure. If a patient has only signed for one procedure, you cannot perform a second, unconsented operation. The wrist open reduction would be a separate intervention, so it requires its own valid, written consent before proceeding. Consent cannot be obtained after anesthesia has begun or while the patient is unconscious; there’s no blanket or implied authorization to perform additional procedures without explicit agreement. If this isn’t an emergency, the correct action is to cancel or pause the unconsented part and obtain proper consent for the wrist procedure before resuming.