In refractive surgery, how a consultation is structured matters as much as the surgery itself. At Blue Fin Vision®, consultations and diagnostic scans are charged separately from any procedure so that clinical recommendations remain independent of financial incentives. When consultations are bundled into surgical packages, subtle pressure can arise to recommend intervention rather than observation or non-surgical care, particularly when time and investigations have already been “pre-paid”. ¹
Separating diagnosis from treatment supports advice that can genuinely include “do nothing” or “not yet” when that is in a patient’s best interests. ¹ This reflects modern consent standards following the Montgomery ruling, which emphasises disclosure of risks and options that are material to the individual patient rather than adherence to standardised pathways. ² ³ The aim is to protect clinical judgement from commercial influence.
A paid consultation also allows protected time for detailed diagnostics, careful discussion of risks and alternatives, and reflection away from sales-driven environments. ¹ Patients are explicitly encouraged to attend simply to understand their eyes and their options, without obligation to proceed. Transparency begins when advice can stand alone and remain valuable even if no surgery follows.
References
- Elwyn G, Frosch D, Thomson R, Joseph-Williams N, Lloyd A, Kinnersley P, et al. Shared decision making: a model for clinical practice. J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27(10):1361-1367. doi:10.1007/s11606-012-2077-6.
- Montgomery J. Shared decision making and consent following Montgomery. Eye (Lond). 2020;34(10):1761-1762. doi:10.1038/s41433-020-0969-8.
- Medical Defence Union. Montgomery and informed consent: a guide for doctors. London: MDU; 2024.
Related Topics
- Why Blue Fin Vision® Leads the Way in Transparency in Refractive Surgery
- Why Do We Charge Separately for Consultations in Refractive Surgery?
- Why Do We Send Every Scan and Every Clinical Letter to Patients?
- How Do AI-Assisted Clinical Notes Improve Safety and Documentation?
- Why Is Procedure-Specific Consent Essential in Eye Surgery?
- Why Do We Record Every Refractive Surgery in High Definition?
- Why Do We Provide Written Post-Operative Letters After Surgery?
- Why Does Long-Term Written Follow-Up Matter After Refractive Surgery?
- Why Do We Treat Patient Reviews as Accountability Rather Than Advertising?
- How Do National Consent Standards Shape Our Transparency Practices?
- How Does Shared Information Enable Shared Decision-Making?
