Surgeons and the medical staff that supports them are trained professionals. As such, when we are due to have a surgical procedure, we tend to trust their judgment and skills implicitly. Perhaps this is because we feel we lack the education to comprehend the jobs they do. Or maybe it is more comforting to believe that these professionals can do no wrong and we are totally safe in their care.
But think about this; when you take your car to be repaired, don’t you ask questions about the work the mechanic says needs to be done? If so, then why wouldn’t you put your doctor under the same kind of scrutiny?
After all, if the mechanic messes up your car repairs, you can take the vehicle back and have it fixed correctly. But if a doctor makes an error during or related to your surgery, you could be seriously harmed or permanently disabled. For this reason, you should never hesitate to ask in-depth questions prior to undergoing any kind of surgical procedure.
All operations, even those considered “routine,” carry an element of risk. And it is incumbent upon your doctor to inform you about every aspect of your proposed surgery. Your surgeon should tell you everything about your operation, including if it is necessary and if so, why? The surgeon should also let you know if there are alternatives to the procedure, how long it will take you to recover, and a whole host of other critical matters. All of this information will allow you to grant the doctor permission to operate based on “informed consent.”
And if after you have your surgery, you discover that your doctor was not forthcoming about any aspect of the procedure, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice suit. This is especially true if the procedure caused you harm. And if this has happened to you, an experienced medical malpractice attorney could work on your behalf in an effort to make sure you receive compensation for the damages caused.