[Information about operative risk: opinions of the physicians and patients involved]

To know the opinion of physicians in charge of informing patients about operative risks, to know how they impart the information and how they think it ought to be explained, and to compare their opinions with those of patients.

Attitude survey. Written questionnaires were given to all surgeons and anesthesiologists at our hospital (143) and to a sample of patients undergoing surgery (90). Results were compared by age, sex, responsibility, and specialty. A chi-squared test was used to compare results if the necessary conditions were met; otherwise, a Fisher exact test was used.

Sixty percent of the doctors always inform patients about risks and 51% of the patients report having been so-informed. Information is given out of respect for the patient's desire for information and to prepare the patient for possible complications. Both the patient and the family are considered the recipients of information equally, according to all doctors except gynecologists, for whom the patient is the one who must be informed. There is little agreement among doctors about criteria for giving information about possible complications. Both surgeons and anesthesiologists believe that risks arising from associated diseases are the responsibility of the anesthesiologist. The doctors believe that information should be both oral and written and that a doctor is obliged to inform a patient about risks. More surgeons (71%) than anesthesiologists (29%) always give information about risks, and patients report learning more about surgical risks (51%) than anesthetic risks (46%). Residents give the least information and young male patients declare themselves to be the best informed.

Information about operative risk is not widespread even though patients know they have a right to be so-informed.