New York Malpractice & Injury Lawyer Blog
Thousands of people undergo surgery across the country every day. Many people put their full trust in their medical team and accept that a surgery is necessary without question. Unfortunately, thousands find that a surgery is performed unnecessarily or incorrectly and must live with the consequences.
You are your own health advocate. You have every right to question your medical team and, in the case of surgery, there are definite questions that should be asked. Here are just a few of the more typical questions that should be posed to your medical team before you go under the knife.
1. Experience
Ask your surgeon about their experience performing the procedure. Every patient deserves a qualified surgeon. Ask the doctor how many of these surgeries they have performed and ask about their success rate. You are the one that is going to have to go back to your life after the surgery. Knowing that you are in the hands of a skilled professional is important.
2. Why?
Why is a simply question yet often unasked. Before you lay down for a surgery you should know exactly why it is being performed. Is it absolutely necessary? Are there other treatment options that you can discuss first? Understand why the doctor has determined that surgery is the best course of action for your condition.
3. What Is the Surgery?
You should know exactly what the surgery will entail. Will you have lasting consequences? Will you be in and out of the hospital in a day or will your surgery require a lengthy hospital stay? What are the potential side effects of this type of operation? The more informed you are about the surgery before it actually happens, the better you can plan for your aftercare.
Never assume that a doctor knows best. You could be making a grave mistake. The more active you are in your own health care, the less likely you are to become the victim of medical malpractice.
If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a doctor’s negligence, please call our offices. A member of our team will provide you with a free initial case evaluation. We are here to help you — call now.