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Bariatric surgical success is more likely when the obesity surgery patient is
a fully involved partner in the entire obesity surgery process, starting before
the surgery. The obesity surgeon, the surgeon's staff and hospitals have the
right to expect reasonable and responsible behavior on the part of the patients
and their families to help achieve this success. The following items identify,
but not completely, many of these responsibilities.
The bariatric surgery patient, family and significant others are responsible, at
the very least, to:
1. Cooperate
Cooperate fully with the hospital and bariatric surgeon's staff and not miss any
appointments, lab tests or studies.
2. Show respect and consideration
Be considerate of the surgeon, surgeon's staff as well as the hospital's
personnel and property. (be committed to not be uncivil, rude or overly
demanding; be considerate of other patients, help control noise and
disturbances, follow smoking policies, and respect others' property).
3. Provide information
Be responsible for providing, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and
complete information about all present complaints, past illnesses,
hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his or her health.
4. Ask Questions Until Clear
Read all materials provided and be responsible for asking questions when
something is not understood.
5. Report Problems
Report perceived risks, complaints or problems in your health care and
unexpected changes in your physical condition as early as possible.
6. Be Completely Honest
Be honest and fully open with the surgeon and staff; if there are any problems,
even embarrassing ones, you should not hide them or avoid describing them; this
includes eating more due to a sweets craving and other problems, and inability
to return for follow-up visits as scheduled.
7. Meet Financial Commitments
Accept responsibility for promptly meeting any financial obligation for services
rendered on their behalf by the surgeon, the hospital and others involved in
their care.
8. Care for self
Assume responsibility for taking care of both physical and emotional well being
and remaining as active as possible.
9. Keep the Surgeon Informed
Inform the surgeon or staff directly, not just by message, of any major changes
or health-related events, including hospital admissions or surgery, even if they
do not seem to be directly related to the bariatric surgery.
10. Not delay calling in about problems
Do not delay to report a problem or complication to your treating bariatric
surgeon or staff.
11. Observe all Instructions Given
Follow the care, service, safety, and treatment plans developed for your care.
You should express any concerns about any special limits or reservation(s) in
following them.
12. Take Medications and Supplements
Take all recommended supplements, nutritional materials including vitamins and
minerals, and medications and to not stop taking any of them without consulting
the bariatric surgeon or staff.
13. Not Take Non-Allowed Medicines or Substances
Avoid those medications and other materials that you has been told not to take.
14. Follow Proper Eating Behavior
Eat the right foods and in the right way as instructed by the surgeon and staff;
avoid "junk foods" and frozen, soft or melted ice cream; to eat only to the
point of feeling full or satisfied.
15. Exercise Regularly
Relative to your abilities exercise regularly, preferable for at least 40
minutes per day.
16. Accept Known Complications
Accept a complication known and accepted with the informed consent process
before surgery as an acceptable possibility; work and cooperate to overcome this
problem, not trying to fix blame on anyone or anything else.
17. Accept responsibility for consequences
Accept responsibility for the outcomes if you do not follow the care, service,
or treatment plan.
18. Not Signing Permission for Surgery Until Fully Understanding It
Not sign the informed consent form before surgery without being fully satisfied
that all the risks, benefits, complications, implications, benefits and options
that you want to know have been given to you and understood by you, once this
form is signed, you must thereafter accept that it means you take complete
responsibility for knowing what is happening and may or may not happen
thereafter as agreed upon.
19. Use All the Information Available to Make Surgery Decisions
Accept that there are life experiences, such as knowing other bariatric surgery
patients' or one's own previous experiences, such as previous surgery or
complications, which add to your knowledge in being adequately informed before
bariatric surgery.
20. Keep Good Communication With Surgeon and Staff
Attend follow-up visits faithfully as known or agreed upon or assigned with the
surgeon or staff; if there is a problem with follow-up such as money or
insurance problems, inform the surgeon or staff and work with them; communicate
with the surgeon and staff at all follow-up times, including sending weight,
lab, and other studies, if something prevents a follow-up visit.
21. Not To Miss Lab Studies
Have periodic lab studies as recommended by surgeon and staff; if done
elsewhere, to make sure they are sent to the surgeon as soon as possible.
22. Share Personal Approach to Surgery With Significant Others (relatives and
family)
Explain fully to the your family your strong commitment to this surgery,
including complete informed consent, and willingness to accept the risks
involved should problems arise.
23. Accept Any Recommended Psychiatric Treatment
Seek and work faithfully with psychiatric treatment if recommended by the
surgeon.
24. Not Rely on Questionable Information
Be responsible for not relying on questionable, unreliable information to make
decisions. Just as one would be suspicious of something heard from "a friend of
a friend" without double-checking it, the patient and family are responsible to
keep skeptical about anything that is not written by a well-known, acceptable
person. This also applies to the Internet which is full of very questionable,
unreliable and mixed information. When in doubt, discuss the information with
the surgeon or office staff.
25. Not Pass on Gossip and Personal Information
Assume responsibility for not discussing, or passing on, detailed information
about the surgery or problems with it. Speak in general terms since specifics by
lay persons may upset others and, therefore, are not acceptable to discuss;
leave medical advice and details to the surgeon and staff.
26. Avoid Pregnancy during ongoing weight loss
Where applicable, avoid becoming pregnant for at least one-two years or until
weight loss has completely leveled off for at least three months.
27. Medicine Changes Approved
Call the surgeon's office for information or approval if unclear about taking
any new medications or stopping any prescribed ones.
28. Patient Care-Giver's Responsibility
The patient's family or surrogate decision-maker assumes the above
responsibility for the patient if the patient has been found by his or her
physician to be incapable of understanding these responsibilities, has been
judged incompetent in accordance with law, or exhibits a communication barrier.
By signing this document, I acknowledge that I fully understand the above and
agree to adhere to all of it for life. I promise to carry a copy in my wallet or
purse at all times.
___________________________________________
___________________
Signature
Date
___________________________________________
____________________
Witness Signature
Date
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