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Irresponsible: What Surgeons Won't Tell You and How to Protect Yourself
DESCRIPTION:
Every day, thousands of unsuspecting patients enter operating rooms, where surgeons often fail to employ appropriate safeguards to prevent their exposure to HIV and hepatitis C. This breakthrough book tells what surgeons should be doing to protect patients (and themselves) from these deadly infections and tells the reader how to find surgeons and surgical facilities that do what is necessary to protect their patients. Now the public can learn the truth about this previously undisclosed health risk. In this startling revelation of the frequent omission of required safety measures, surgeon/author Mark Davis, M.D. provides a behind-the-scenes view of a previously undisclosed health threat. Eventually, everyone will face surgery, either their own or that of a relative. Irresponsible is a surgeon’s bold mission to make surgical procedures more transparent and safer for patients.
PRAISE FOR IRRESPONSIBLE
“This new book by Dr. Mark Davis draws upon his experience as a surgeon and describes concise and feasible actions the public, particularly patients, can take to protect themselves (and the surgical team who cares for them). The information is easy to read in non-technical language . . . a must-read” . . . Elise Handelman, RN, MEd, Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist, consultant. Former Director, Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
"Few know about the possibility of being exposed to an [HIV or hepatitis C] infected healthcare worker during surgery. And if such an exposure occurs, few exposed patients will ever be informed of it. There are regulations in place that are ignored and a culture of nondisclosure that is tolerated–all at the expense of patient safety. Dr. Davis pulls back the surgical drapes and takes a hard look at the anatomy of this problem. An informed surgical patient can tip the odds in his or her own favor. An informed public can demand change in a system that continues to relegate this safety issue to a back burner. This book will help surgical patients and their family members to broach this subject with more confidence - as they have a right to do.” . . . Janine Jagger, MPH, PhD. Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine. Founder & Director, International Healthcare Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia Health System
“Surgical care providers and patients face a host of risks when they enter the operating room, yet may falsely assume that all precautions have been taken to ensure their safety. This provocative and pioneering work shifts the focus to empowering consumers of health care, providing them with tools to help fill information gaps and advance safety for themselves and health care workers everywhere. Davis’ patient-centered approach to reducing preventable harm is timely and consistent with a vision of health care that actively engages patients in fostering an expectation that they receive the safest care possible. As direct consumers, patients deserve to be as informed as possible in every aspect of their care, including previously unspoken threats to their health. This book will make a major contribution to patient safety and empowerment.” . . . Karen Daley, PhD, RN, FAAN, President, American Nurses Association
“Dr. Mark Davis takes the bold step to create awareness of the risk of contracting a bloodborne disease such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or HIV during surgery…not only informs the healthcare consumer of the facts and risks of contracting a bloodborne disease during surgery but what the consumer can do to be proactive about prevention. Dr. Davis takes an innovative approach to reducing sharps injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposure by involving the patient in the conversation.
Every day, thousands of unsuspecting patients enter operating rooms, where surgeons often fail to employ appropriate safeguards to prevent their exposure to HIV and hepatitis C. This breakthrough book tells what surgeons should be doing to protect patients (and themselves) from these deadly infections and tells the reader how to find surgeons and surgical facilities that do what is necessary to protect their patients. Now the public can learn the truth about this previously undisclosed health risk. In this startling revelation of the frequent omission of required safety measures, surgeon/author Mark Davis, M.D. provides a behind-the-scenes view of a previously undisclosed health threat. Eventually, everyone will face surgery, either their own or that of a relative. Irresponsible is a surgeon’s bold mission to make surgical procedures more transparent and safer for patients.
PRAISE FOR IRRESPONSIBLE
“This new book by Dr. Mark Davis draws upon his experience as a surgeon and describes concise and feasible actions the public, particularly patients, can take to protect themselves (and the surgical team who cares for them). The information is easy to read in non-technical language . . . a must-read” . . . Elise Handelman, RN, MEd, Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist, consultant. Former Director, Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
"Few know about the possibility of being exposed to an [HIV or hepatitis C] infected healthcare worker during surgery. And if such an exposure occurs, few exposed patients will ever be informed of it. There are regulations in place that are ignored and a culture of nondisclosure that is tolerated–all at the expense of patient safety. Dr. Davis pulls back the surgical drapes and takes a hard look at the anatomy of this problem. An informed surgical patient can tip the odds in his or her own favor. An informed public can demand change in a system that continues to relegate this safety issue to a back burner. This book will help surgical patients and their family members to broach this subject with more confidence - as they have a right to do.” . . . Janine Jagger, MPH, PhD. Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine. Founder & Director, International Healthcare Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia Health System
“Surgical care providers and patients face a host of risks when they enter the operating room, yet may falsely assume that all precautions have been taken to ensure their safety. This provocative and pioneering work shifts the focus to empowering consumers of health care, providing them with tools to help fill information gaps and advance safety for themselves and health care workers everywhere. Davis’ patient-centered approach to reducing preventable harm is timely and consistent with a vision of health care that actively engages patients in fostering an expectation that they receive the safest care possible. As direct consumers, patients deserve to be as informed as possible in every aspect of their care, including previously unspoken threats to their health. This book will make a major contribution to patient safety and empowerment.” . . . Karen Daley, PhD, RN, FAAN, President, American Nurses Association
“Dr. Mark Davis takes the bold step to create awareness of the risk of contracting a bloodborne disease such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or HIV during surgery…not only informs the healthcare consumer of the facts and risks of contracting a bloodborne disease during surgery but what the consumer can do to be proactive about prevention. Dr. Davis takes an innovative approach to reducing sharps injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposure by involving the patient in the conversation.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2015
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About the author
Mark Davis
134 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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