Okla. Docs Must Inform Patients Who’s Operating on Them

Oklahoma doctors must tell their patients who will be performing significant portions of a procedure if it is someone other than them (Hurley v. Kirk, 2017 BL 210311, Okla., 113383, 6/20/17).

The scope of an Oklahoma physician’s duty to obtain a patient’s informed consent is measured by the patient’s need to know enough to make an intelligent and informed choice, the Oklahoma Supreme Court clarified June 20. A physician must disclose the names of anyone substantially assisting with the procedure or surgery, because that might be important to the patient’s decision, the court said.

This state supreme court ...