Before undergoing a life-changing procedure, people pursing bariatric surgery should be fully informed of medical, psychological, and behavioral risks–in addition to the behavioral, nutritional, and social changes they are likely to experience post-operatively. Patient education materials can be developed to guide conversations between patients and providers about these risks and outcomes, as well as to document that these important conversations took place. Each program will have key points of informed consent they wish to cover in their pre-operative visits. While most programs will approach informed consent in a uniform way for each patient, it can help to augment the process with more detailed discussion about topics of particular relevance to any one patient. This section contains information that can assist healthcare professionals in creating patient education materials to be provided throughout the informed consent process. As individual programs differ, these resources are not all-encompassing and should be tailored to each program’s needs.
ASMBS Position Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our organization’s strength is rooted in the diversity of its members and leadership. A diverse membership is more likely to find ways to improve access to care for marginalized patient populations, with obesity disproportionately affecting those along geographic, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines.
For ASMBS, patient outcomes are paramount. By embracing and integrating DEI practices, we aim not only to enhance these outcomes and bridge the gaps in treatment disparities but also to increase access to obesity care, enhance education on obesity treatment, and foster research benefiting everyone touched by obesity. The ASMBS is dedicated to incorporating DEI principles in all its activities to better serve our members and continuously improve patient care across all groups.