If you or a loved one is experiencing a health issue, it is, of course, imperative that you seek the diagnosis of a medical professional. If your doctor tells you that surgery is the best way to address your condition, then you have a couple of very important decisions to make. First, you need to decide if you are going to simply trust the doctor and other health care providers and go along with their recommendations or if you are going to gather information on your own and then decide if you want to have the procedure.
Typically, it is a good idea if you actively seek information. While healthcare professionals usually offer sound advice, it doesn’t hurt to make sure you are getting the treatment you really need. To this end, you should ask if and why the surgery is necessary. You want clarification regarding the surgery’s chance of success for correcting your specific issues. Remember, there are risks involved in all surgical procedures, so you want to make sure the potential rewards make the operation worthwhile.
If you decide you want to undergo surgery, your next step is making sure you have a doctor you trust to perform the procedure. Don’t be afraid to ask a surgeon if he or she is board certified to perform the specific type of surgery you require. Also, ask the surgeon how often he or she has performed the surgery and what sort of outcomes resulted. And have the surgeon tell you in detail about possible complications and the frequency of infections.
By taking a proactive approach, you can help ensure you get the treatment you need from a doctor you trust. Unfortunately, you only have so much control over the situation. If you or a family member is injured during a surgical procedure, you may want to have the event investigated by an experienced medical malpractice attorney. The attorney can act on your behalf in an effort to hold the liable parties responsible and to help you receive appropriate compensation for the injuries.