Jane Newburger, MD, Associate Cardiologist-in-Chief at Children's Hospital Boston offered the following responses:

How much do you think kids need to know about an operation or a catheterization?

The amount of information about an operation or catheterization that should be given to children depends upon their age, their ability to understand an explanation, and their desire to know specific details.

• Almost all kids, no matter how old, should have some understanding of what will happen before, during, and after a procedure. All kids need to be reassured that they will be safe.

• All kids should be told that they should talk to the nurses and doctors present at the procedure if they are afraid, confused, upset, in pain, etc.

• All kids need to know when they will be able to see their parents or family members, which is usually as soon as possible after the procedure is complete.

I always ask parents privately to what extent they would like their children included in serious discussions. I almost never discuss serious risks (like death, stroke, etc.) when the child is present.

I'm quite sure that some medical personnel (usually physicians) are so focused on discussing risks and benefits and obtaining an informed consent that they are insensitive to the effect such a discussion can have on the child if he/she is in the room. For my own patients, I recommend that the parents tell the triage nurse in the pre-catheterization or pre-surgical area about their preference regarding their child's presence during informed consent.

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