Questions To Ask Your Surgeon When Trust is not There

When you are considering Surgery, no matter how minor, it would be a good idea to get all the facts before making a decision. We know we get that fear with so much terminology as soon as get get into a Hospital, but in the end you are the interested party and you have to start asking questions.

Medical malpractice is rampant and if you don't take heed, you will join another "accidental procedure statistical" that went wrong. Here are some questions that you can ask your surgeon so that you are better informed and be on your 'safe side' bed.

• Do I need this freaking surgery like now or in a few days?

Make sure you understand how the operation can improve your medical condition or problem. Just as grandam told ya: You have to see alternatives for that little cut. Whenever you go to the mechanic, the question comes naturally, but when you are in a colder environment; for some psychological reason uneasiness takes hold of certain people. Make sure you understand how long the benefits should last. Another reason to have in consideration is... can you lose or gain by postponing or not having the surgery? Meanwhile get yourself informed and come up with more resourceful questions.

• What is the operation (procedure) that is recommended?

Now you can print this article and be ready to ask this: Can your surgeon supply you with a brief explanation of the type of operation, technique used, and reasons it should be performed? Is not that they want to play 'hookie,' but your life is at the hands of persons that have made mistakes before, and you want to go home safe. You have mad plans and you don't want to cancel that plane ticket.

Pictures and drawings can tell a family members and yourself a lot. Worst case scenario you can ask for a YouTube link, where you can check yourself. Funny to say, that most Physicians chose C-Section over natural delivery. Why? They want to get the most from your insurance, and if they want to stick you one procedure, you gotta have the guts to ask over and over. Just be ready to ask questions like "Why was this specific procedure chosen over possible alternatives?"

• How Much Will It Cost?

Find out about the surgeon's fees, Hospital costs and fees from referral doctors that will take over. In New Jersey, Physicians fees are charged separate from the Hospital fees. You must check the insurance coverage with a representative. A toll free number should be available in the back of your insurance card. You should be aware of the deductibles and fees when you go outside your network coverage. Websites are already waiting to answer frequent questions, and you need some answers.Take 3o mins that can save you 30 years, like an insurance ad claim!

• Are There Alternatives?

Health conditions can be improved by dietary changes or go 'back to the board' and choose medication or treatments like special exercises. If you have your car in the shop, you can suggest alternatives to your oil changes (synthetic, or recycled). Or come closer and ask the mechanic to check on your tire pressure. There is not a rigid rule to follow. All doctors can give you different diagnostics and you are old enough to see in their eyes and trust your guts. Waiting to see if a problem gets better or worse over time may be an option.

• Very Important -- What Are The Risks?

Knowing in advance a procedure's possible complications and 'side effects' can help you weigh benefits and risks. Surgeons slightly avoid to run into this question, because is just too stressful to reveal dangerous effects of a drug, or an intervention. If you think you can handle this news, then go ahead and ask.

• What kind of anesthesia is required for the procedure?

May sound too technical, but you just fixate your memory in two words: General or local. There is not much to think about it. Is a general anesthetic necessary? Can the procedure be performed under local or regional anesthesia? Are sedatives or other medications required prior to the procedure? What are the risks of the type of anesthesia to be used? Is it really painful when your already sent home and you depend on your own painkillers? By asking all these questions you will instill respect from them...and don't worry, is your money and your life..! Too bad if they make eyes, all because they forgot to text to their partner or relative.

Like we said before, around 200,000 American patients die from preventable medical mistakes each year, it becomes vitally important that we take some control over which Physician is the safest.

First of all, if you are checking a list of doctors on your insurance's website, you have time to start finding his background. If you go to peoples dot com, you will be asked to pay a fee. But the good thing is you have this surgeons relatives for further research. Just type your name and age and some relatives of yours will pop up. By having is name you can go straight to a FaceBook account and even twitter (Through his website live feeding). You can get a glimpse of the real person behind a doctor.

Go next to find out if this Physician is really licensed. His website will entice you to choose his services, but just get sensitive info from there like address and phone number. Each state licenses doctors. You can look up licenses at your states's physician licensing board. With no license, the doctor is not allowed to practice medicine.

Is this doctor board-certified? The average patient do not even think to go this far, but how important is this? We are going to give you the link and decide once and for all! Surgeons and doctors will give you the bona fide confidence, but you gotta be on top of the game and find out.

The quick and last thing you can do is Google, "malpractice" along with "his name."

How will I be sure he won't have his way with me while I am unconscious?

First of all no Surgeon is alone in the operating room anymore. Unless you have George Clooney playing the part, ya know? Is up to you. "You own that body."

Should I mark the leg THEY are supposed to cut off, so they don't remove the good leg?

Believe or not this has happened before. Kelley Ward can agree with us. Sometimes doctors are in a rush and cannot even read their own writing. So, just mark the darn leg with a magic marker, before you are put to sleep!!!

How about "where is the escape route?"...

If you want to play Ethan Hunt from Mission impossible, stop by the Fire department and tell the Fire Marshall we sent you. Get the scaping routes blueprints and air conditioned outlets(You never know). Is not that we do not trust our Surgeons, but... and but, when I had to take my wife to see a gynecologist, I made sure I was there. If our Pilots have a copy of the Octomom on Playboy while telling you that the sky is blue and temperatures are about 82 degrees... and you will make to Miami in 2 hours 45 minutes, then worry about his hands...!!