[Poncho]

Rein,

You paint a very realistic picture of what commonly happens with many surgeons (not all, but many) that wiggle out of their obligations to explain what will be done in the patient's upcoming surgery - regardless if it is spine, abdominal, neuro et al. As a nurse preparing patients for surgery, there have been times that I have went many rounds with some surgeons trying to get out of explaining procedures to patients and even refusing to sign the Surgery consent form. Exactly why they do this - I really don't know. In some cases we had to play "hard ball" - No informed consent and signed consent form - NO SURGERY! - I'm glad that I don't have to deal with this much anymore.