Patients would get surgery information before uterus or ovary removal

A physician would obtain the patient's oral and written informed consent before performing either surgery. This would apply to physicians performing a hysterectomy or removal of one or both ovaries. The patient would be told they can refuse or withdraw consent before surgery without losing future care or eligible state or federal program benefits. The patient would receive a referral to the HERS Foundation and diagrams of pelvic organs, their support structures, nerves, and blood supply. Before surgery, the patient would sign a statement saying they read and understood the information, discussed it with the physician or designee, and were told the surgery causes permanent infertility. The consent process would not be required in a life-threatening emergency when the attending physician determines prior written consent is not possible. The patient would receive the information at least two weeks before signing the consent form and sign the statement before surgery.