Can they do surgery without putting you to sleep?

Many hand surgery procedures can now be performed under local anesthesia in the clinic setting, without the need for sedation or general anesthesia, using a technique called WALANT, which stands for wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet.

What happens if I refuse surgery?

Where a competent adult refuses treatment recommended by guidelines, the doctor is bound to respect that refusal. If he does not, the doctor may face disciplinary action by the General Medical Council, plus possible civil and criminal proceedings in battery.

Can you refuse an operation?

A patient may refuse surgery as long as they can understand the decision, the effect that decision will have on them and act in their own best interest. A competent patient has the right to refuse any treatment, even if it will shorten their life, and choose an option that provides the best quality of life for them.

Can I say no to surgery?

Can you have surgery awake?

Depending on the specific procedure and the patient being operated on, the type of anesthesia or sedation used will vary. Some patients remain awake during the entire procedure while others are sedated or put to sleep at the beginning and end of the procedure while being fully awake in the middle.

Is being put under anesthesia scary?

Although every person has a different experience, you may feel groggy, confused, chilly, nauseated, scared, alarmed, or even sad as you wake up. Depending on the procedure or surgery, you may also have some pain and discomfort afterward, which the anesthesiologist can relieve with medications.

What surgeries require anesthesia?

While there are many types and levels of anesthesia — medication to keep you from feeling pain during surgery — general anesthesia is most commonly used for major operations, such as knee and hip replacements, heart surgeries, and many types of surgical procedures to treat cancer.