Top Ten Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon

Doctors have a fiduciary duty of care in New York. This legal responsibility, which requires doctors to set aside all other concerns and only do what’s best for their patients, includes pre-surgical conversations. Patients must know what to expect next, and they must be 100 percent comfortable with the proposed procedure. Unfortunately many doctors are burned out. As a result, pre-surgical consultations may be brief and one-sided. These conversations may only cover a few points that the doctor, not the patient, considers critical.

If a lack of care causes injury, a kişisel yaralanma avukatı may be able to obtain the compensation these families need and deserve. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available as well, in some extreme situations.

How Experienced is the Surgeon?

You have an absolute right to know the surgeon’s experience and other qualifications. Many times, doctors refer patients to specialist surgeons. Do not be afraid to ask questions and research the surgeon yourself.

Who Do I Ask to Get a Second Opinion?

Always ask for a second opinion. If the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment plan are solid, there’s no reason a second opinion should bother the doctor. If the diagnosis and/or treatment plan aren’t solid, you need to know now, rather than after the procedure.

Is Surgery Necessary?

Usually, surgery is a last resort. Doctors should only perform aggressive surgery when all other, less aggressive methods have failed. There may be a good reason the doctor doesn’t want to use other, less aggressive methods. You have a right to know what that reason is.

How Much Does it Cost?

Surgical costs include direct costs, which insurance often pays, and indirect costs, which patients usually pay. Direct costs include hospitalization costs and physical therapy costs. Indirect expenses include missed work and loss of consortium (companionship and contribution to household affairs).

What Happens During a Preoperative Exam?

This important, and often overlooked question usually covers two areas: the patient’s qualification for surgery and the procedure itself.

We mentioned the doctor’s qualifications above. Sometimes, patients have pre-existing conditions that could adversely affect the results, the recovery period, or another aspect of the surgery. Doctors mustn’t skip this important step so they can finish the procedure quickly.

What are the Risks of Surgery?

All medical procedures, from aspirin ingestion to brain surgery, have risks and possible complications. Generally, the risk is minimal and the benefits of surgery clearly outweigh those risks.

What About Anesthesia Options?

Most people have multiple anesthesia options, such as a local or general anesthetic. Both approaches have pros and cons. Usually, the anesthesiologist is a drop-in doctor who knows little about the procedure or patient, so you can ask how much the doctor will be informed of your specific procedure and medical history.

What Happens During Surgery?

You may not want to know exactly what happens during surgery. But you have a right to know the generalities. Although you need to trust your doctor, you need to know exactly what you’re getting into, and you need to spot possible red flags.

What Outcome Can You Expect?

No doctor can guarantee an outcome, but a doctor can tell you what outcome to expect, including exceptions. The doctor may believe the likely outcome outweighs the cons of surgery, like the pain and recovery period. But you should make this decision for yourself.

How Long Will the Recovery Be?

Surgery is a last resort because, in many cases, the cure is only marginally better than the disease. Major surgical recovery could require months and could be very painful. You have a right to know what you’re getting into, so you can properly consider the surgical option. Staying in bed for two or three months simply isn’t an option for many people.

Asking the right questions before surgery usually ensures a better outcome. For a free consultation with an deneyimli kişisel yaralanma avukatı , contact Napoli Shkolnik. We have offices nationwide ready to answer your questions.