IV policy?

Question

Hospital policy, sometimes encouraged by legal precautions, often requires a patient to have an IV (intravenous infusions) to maintain steady levels of a patient's blood pH. For various reasons, a patient may not want one. Should a hospital insist that patients accept IV fluids? Should doctors side with the patient or with hospital policy?

Answer 1

Its quite a new information for me to hear about such hospital policy requiring patients to have IV fluids.

All I know is that, unnecessary IV access are tried to be limited as much as possible as one of the precautionary measures against infection.

There are departments however which have standard protocols on establishing IV access but there are certain criteria as well on who needs to have an IV line or who do not need to have .
There are cases also (like MI,etc.) who needs to have an IV access for emergency purposes.

Administering an IV fluids is usually per doctor's order based on his assessment of the patient and not just per hospital policy. Doctors may adhere to hospital policy but the priority is always on the patent's interest.

Anyway, the patient has the right to refuse. If he/she may not want one, nobody will do it forcefully.

Well, that's far as I know of.......

Answer 2

as far as i know.. an IV is done for specific reasons determined by the dr. frequently an INT is done just in case there is a need for an IV in an emergency.

bottom line is a patient has the right to refuse any kind of treatment.

it doesn't matter whether it is a blood transfusion, a blood test or an IV. or anything else including medication. they can even leave against medical advice... we can't force someone to stay... unless they are under arrest by the legal system or institutionalized by the court or deemed incompetent to make such judgements due to dementia. cooperation is your choice.

Answer 3

The doctor is going to do whats best for the patient.