Shop carefully for your next surgeon

[Pies4shaw]

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/23/patients-dying-daily-due-to-poor-soft-skills-among-australian-surgeons-experts-warn

[npalm]

It's hard to imagine a bigger decision than making a choice of surgeon for an invasive procedure but how do you even start to 'shop around' for one?

My experience is that you don't get a choice unless you speak up. I think the vast majority of cases follow the same path i.e. your GP refers you to their preferred specialist who in turn refers you to their preferred surgeon. Typically we place an inordinate amount of trust in these individuals.

How often would a surgeon actually be asked some key questions? Like, how many times have you performed this procedure? What proportion of the patients were satisfied with the results? How many patients died as a result of the surgery? etc

How would you shop around? You wouldn't want to rely on word of mouth like you would for a plumber or a mechanic.

[npalm]

And P4S, how would one go about shopping around for a good criminal barrister? Asking for a friend.

[stui magpie]

Agreed Npalm, unless you go public and get what you're given, I rely on the recommendation of my GP.

I had Abdominal surgery during Covid (snuck in a window between lockdowns) to repair some umbilical hernias. GP referred me to the surgeon, I met him, he did an examination, explained the procedure and I quite liked the guy.

Did a fkn brilliant job.

Same thing when my son needed surgery for a tumour in his knee 20 years ago

[think positive]

Don’t go with doctor Tao!