If you went into hospital for an operation, would they tell you if they found anything 'else' wrong with you?

Question

For instance, say you had what a leg op, and needed to take/give blood to you, would they test you for sti's etc and tell you if they found you had anything.....serious?

Answer 1

I dont really know what exactly you are talking about, but I am a hospital RN and have worked in and out of sugical areas for the last 12 yrs.
They are not allowed to give you blood without a consent signed before they administer the product. Patients have routine labs drawn before surgery such as a metabolic panel and a CBC (blood count) and a PT/INR (blood clotting time) . If you have a special condition, they also examine the labs pertinent to that problem such as dilantin levels etc...
I have seen physicians do HIV screens on patients but rarely. Usually they do this if they know the pt is engaging in high risk behavior or if the pt has a disease or condition which would make them suspicious of the pts HIV status.
We have the pt sign a consent form before we draw the HIV screen however.
Also, during surgery, the physicians always examine the abdomen to look around to see if there is anything in there which needs to be addressed. For instance, if you go for an appendectomy, they look at your bowel and your ovaries and your gall bladder and check it out. Recently, we had a pt go in for a routine lap chole and came out with her appendix out too. The surgeon was suspicious and took it out after looking at it during surgery.
As for hospitals doing routine HIV screens, we are not allowed. It is a breech of pts rights. We do not screen them, without consent, and always follow strict universal precautions for our safety..wearing gloves, handwashing, gowns, etc...I live in Illinois.
Hope that helps answer your question.

Answer 2

Well they usually do check for STD's I am pretty sure as well as your blood glucose levels for the past month and any other blood disorders that could cause a bad reaction while being put under. Prior to the operation if there was something, they would tell you and, say it was an STD they would probably treat you prior to the surgery. As, well if there was something else dangerous such as diabetes, thryroid, heart etc..they would advise you they are using extra precaution!

Answer 3

Yes, I went in for a hysterectoy because of a history of cysts on the ovary, and had a big one, and the doc was afraid that if she didn't get rid of things, that I would have future problems. She checked for appendix problems, and looked at my gall bladder. Said I may have problems with it in the future.

Answer 4

I have heard that hospitals routinely test for HIV just to protect the staff, but don't tell the patient, unless the patient requests the test and signs for it. I don't know for sure about this tho.

Answer 5

Yes, they would. Matter of fact that's how people find out they are isck, they go with one thing, next thing they know they have several health problems.

Answer 6

most times yes if they know of it