ABSTRACT
Confusion is usually implied by irrational opinion or behaviour. It may be precipitated by anaesthesia and surgery or by illness. Attention must be paid to its cause.
ACTION PLAN
1 Take history, examine and investigate to find cause and treat if applicable
2 If evidence of psychiatric illness take advice from psychiatrists 3 Give explanation and reassurance to patient 4 Consider issues of consent 5 Call consultant gynaecologist if there are issues of consent e.g. if
surgery planned who will consider the best interest of the patient by balancing the need and risk. Consider telephone advice from his medical defence organization
7 Document, in full, decisions, to give treatment against patient’s will or where treatment have been carried out without consent with time, date, a signature and printed identification
8 Retrospectively assess cause and follow up
CONSULT OTHER TOPICS
Consent (p 279) Risk management for medical staff (p 276)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Take history, examine and investigate to find cause. Treat if applicable
• Hypoxia. • Hypotension. • Sepsis. • Drugs or drug withdrawal. • Metabolic causes especially hypoglycaemia. • Endocrine causes.
