Guide to Choosing the Best Surgeon for You

Learning that you need surgery can be unsettling, and it is more than reasonable to have concerns. During surgery, you must trust the surgical team with the inside of your body while you are unconscious. Even routine surgical procedures carry serious risks. One of the most important factors in a surgical outcome is your surgeon’s skill, experience, and conscientiousness. This guide will show you how to find the best surgeon, improving the likelihood of a positive outcome and allowing you to face your surgery with confidence.

Seven Reasons Why Selecting the Right Surgeon Matters

Surgery is never easy, but having a qualified surgeon with relevant experience and a solid track record can make all the difference for the following reasons:

A better outcome. You will be more likely to experience the intended benefits of the procedure.
Fewer complications. An experienced surgeon will perform the procedure skillfully and know what to do if emergencies and complications arise.
Reduced likelihood of medical malpractice. A competent surgeon will properly supervise the surgical team and be less likely to make surgical errors that cause serious harm.
Peace of mind. Knowing your surgeon has a strong track record and the appropriate certifications and experience can alleviate the anxiety associated with having surgery.
Faster, easier recovery. A skilled surgeon can ensure the incision is as small and clean as possible, use technology to reduce the invasiveness of some procedures, and avoid complications that make it harder to recover.
Knowledge about what to expect. A good surgeon will explain in detail what will happen during the procedure and what you will experience in the short and long term following the surgery.
An informed decision. The best surgeons inform you of the risks and benefits of surgery, discuss the alternatives, and allow you to make decisions about treatment without pressure.

Step-by-Step Process for Vetting a Surgeon

You place your life in your surgeon’s hands and have a right to know whether the surgeon is someone you can trust. Fortunately, numerous resources are available to check your surgeon’s background. The steps below will help you determine whether you can safely allow a particular surgeon to operate on you.

Step 1

Check Qualifications & Credentials

You have a right to know the following about your surgeon:

Where they went to medical school
Whether they are board-certified
Whether their license is active and in what states
Whether they have received specialized training
How long they have been in practice

You may be able to obtain this information directly from the surgeon or their practice. You can also find this information online using the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation’s lookup tool or by searching DocInfo.

Ideally, your doctor should be board-certified in the type of surgery you are having. Doctors must obtain specialized training and deliver high-quality care to become board-certified. You can confirm a doctor is board-certified by visiting the American Board of Medical Specialties website.

Step 2

Research Experience & Specialization

Even if your surgeon has decades of experience performing surgery, they may not be the best choice if they don’t have extensive experience performing the type of surgery you are having. You want a doctor who has performed dozens or hundreds of procedures like yours. To find a doctor with the right amount of experience, choose a surgeon with many years of specialized experience in the type of surgery you are undergoing.

You may be able to obtain this information through the doctor’s office or by talking directly to the surgeon, but it is always best to verify this information through a neutral source. You can view information about your surgeon’s specialties and their experience online at sites like HealthGrades.

The best surgeons who specialize in intricate procedures become leaders in their fields and have often published medical journal articles in the area. You can search for your surgeon’s name on PubMed to determine whether they have authored any studies.

Step 3

Review Patient Reviews and Testimonials

The experience and opinions of past patients provide one of the most accurate methods of gauging a surgeon’s skill and competence. However, it is important to ensure the reviews and testimonials come from objective sources. You may be able to obtain testimonials and references from the doctor’s office, but the doctor’s office will likely only show you positive reviews. It is more reliable to look outside the doctor’s office for reviews.

You can start by asking people you know or visiting social media pages related to the surgical practice. You can also find reviews online through such sites as the following:

The practice’s Google business profile, which you can find by typing in the name of the surgeon or the practice, followed by the city and state
HealthGrades
RateMDs
Vitals

These are just a few examples. Many websites collect doctor reviews. When choosing a site, make sure the surgeon is not affiliated with it.

Step 4

Verify Surgical Success Rates & Outcomes

You should be able to determine a surgeon’s success rate by asking for it directly. A reputable surgeon will be happy to provide this information. During the conversation, ask the surgeon what complications they have had during surgery, how they handled the complications, and what the outcomes were in those cases.

You can verify what the surgeon tells you by talking to other doctors, nurses, and community members. Your primary care provider may be able to give you some insight into the doctor’s track record. Ask your primary care provider what kind of reputation that surgeon has and whether they would allow the surgeon to operate on a loved one.

The more people you talk to, the easier it will be to determine the surgeon’s reputation. Do people roll their eyes or make off-handed negative remarks when you mention the surgeon? That is not a good sign. On the other hand, are they quick to heap praise on the surgeon? People who have had either positive or negative experiences with a surgeon will be eager to tell you about them.

Step 5

Check for Surgeon Malpractice Claims or Disciplinary Actions

It is crucial to determine whether your surgeon has been the subject of discipline or lawsuits. A history of bad acts could speak to the surgeon’s current character and pattern of conduct.

The state medical board may discipline a doctor for numerous reasons, whether or not the doctor has been sued. Such reasons could include negligence, drug or alcohol impairment while on duty, failure to maintain proper medical records, sexual misconduct with a patient, and inappropriate prescriptions. You can check the DocInfo website to determine whether a surgeon has been the subject of disciplinary action by the Illinois Medical Board or any other state board.

Find out if your surgeon has been named in any medical malpractice lawsuits. Search the civil records on the Cook County Clerk of Court’s website for medical malpractice suits. You can check 82 of the 102 counties in Illinois simultaneously by searching for the surgeon’s name at Judici.com. You can find a listing of websites for each county, including those not included on Judici.com via the state court directory.

Step 6

Interview Your Surgeon

Talk directly to your surgeon one-on-one before the procedure. If you are only dealing with a primary care doctor and have had little or no contact with the surgeon, schedule an appointment with the surgeon so you can ask questions about the surgery and the surgeon’s background.

Use your appointment to determine whether you are comfortable with the surgeon. Even if the surgeon tells you what you want to hear, pay attention to how the surgeon treats you and whether you feel comfortable with your life being in this doctor’s hands. For example, consider the following:

Does the surgeon answer your questions thoroughly or gloss through them?
Does the surgeon display empathy, or do they seem annoyed with your questions?
Do you feel like the surgeon cares about your outcome, or does the surgeon treat you like a number?
Is the surgeon open about the risks, potential complications, and alternatives, or is the surgeon defensive when you ask?

Trust your gut. If anything about the surgeon makes you feel uncomfortable, interview alternative surgeons and choose the one who makes you feel safe trusting them with your life and health.

Red Flags to Watch Out For With Surgeons

Discomfort with a surgeon may be more than a gut feeling. You may be seeing red flags that would give you a valid cause for concern.

For example, suppose you interview a surgeon who intends to perform a coronary artery bypass. The doctor answers your questions with short, incomplete answers and refuses to tell you about less invasive alternatives, such as coronary angioplasty or lifestyle changes. The doctor becomes angry and refuses to answer when you ask about their success rate, credentials, or how they handle complications.

While these responses could be mere personality problems, they are unprofessional. They also raise red flags that the doctor views you as a source of profit and has something to hide. Avoid such a practitioner. These are just a few examples. Other red flags include the following:

Aggressive sales tactics, especially for elective procedures like cosmetic surgery
Nurses or other health care providers dislike them
Using their phone or not paying attention to you during appointments
Arrogance
Anger when you want a second opinion
Lack of board certification specific to your procedure
Few or no online reviews
Negative reviews

Questions to Ask During Your Surgery Consultation

A good surgeon will want you to be confident about their abilities and your outcome. The following questions can set your mind at ease about your surgeon:

Ideally, the doctor will give you a large number, like hundreds.

A reputable surgeon will be ready to provide plenty of references without being defensive.

A trustworthy surgeon will be transparent about what could go wrong. They will also reassure you about how they will handle complications if they arise.

A reputable surgeon won’t mind sharing this with you. A competent surgeon doesn’t have to have a 100 percent success rate, but it should be high.

The surgeon should be able to provide a detailed answer.

Ask if a resident, intern, or other inexperienced person will wield the scalpel. You have a right to refuse to allow trainees to perform the surgery.

A good surgeon should be willing to discuss non-surgical options with you.

An honest surgeon will discuss both the pros and cons of not having surgery.

The Final Decision Is Yours

Surgery always carries a risk of complications that could affect you for the rest of your life, and no one should feel pressured to go into it lightly. You are entitled to know why you need the surgery, what could go wrong, and who will perform it. As a patient in a flawed health care system, you must advocate for yourself to ensure you receive quality care.

Advocating for yourself is hard. It can be intimidating to stand up to a doctor on your own. When possible, take a loved one with you to the doctor so you don’t have to stand up alone. Your future and your life could depend on your self-advocacy. No matter what the doctor tells you, you have a right to choose your surgeon and even decline the surgery.

Let Levin & Perconti Protect Your Rights

Our knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyers are dedicated to creating a safer medical system by holding negligent health care providers accountable and informing patients of their rights. Since 1992, we have recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including several record results.

If you are unsure of your legal rights or suspect you have been harmed by medical malpractice, we can help. Call (312) 332-2872 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.

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