When you step foot into a physician or surgeon’s office, whether they specialize in obstetrics, neurology, or even ophthalmology, you expect the doctor rendering the care to be qualified and capable of providing you with accurate information and quality care. You also expect that the treating doctor has experience in the field he or she claims they specialize in so that you don’t have him or her performing a procedure on you they aren’t exactly trained to do. Now, while you might be saying to yourself, “How can a doctor offer to perform a procedure on me if they aren’t trained in this area of medicine?”
The truth is, there are instances where a medical professional is able to perform work on a patient after having received certain levels of education and training but isn’t experienced with the particular type of work they are proposing they can do. Take a surgeon for example. While a surgeon can operate on a patient who might have suffered an injury, has been diagnosed with a disease, is looking to reconstruct one or more areas of their body, or to treat deformities, that surgeon must be skilled in a particular area before he or she should attempt to perform any type of surgical procedure [Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics].
Unfortunately, there are licensed surgeons who have received the required training to perform certain types of cosmetic procedures but aren’t actually experienced in this field of medicine. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, “many health care providers are now performing plastic surgery procedures, but that doesn’t mean they’re all qualified to perform plastic surgery.” So, how can a patient tell whether the doctor they choose is, in fact, a qualified cosmetic surgeon or if they simply have a license that legally permits them to perform cosmetic surgery?
There are a few ways you can weed out the doctors who haven’t yet acquired the training and experience to perform a cosmetic procedure. Some things you can do to if you are in search of a doctor who is qualified to perform plastic surgery include:
- Be sure your surgeon is certified with The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). When you choose a doctor who is certified by the ABPS, “you can be assured that the surgeon has completed the appropriate training and passed comprehensive written and oral examinations covering all plastic surgery procedures.” You can verify if a particular surgeon is certified by the ABPS now by clicking here.
- Find out what other certifications a potential surgeon might have acquired. For example, if you are having a procedure done that is expected to help you lose weight such as a tummy tuck, be sure your doctor has not only performed these types of procedures before but also that he or she has obtained a certification in this particular field.
- Ask around for recommendations. Asking reliable sources for cosmetic surgeon recommendations can help you find someone who has not only acquired the proper credentials, but is also a caring and compassionate doctor.
- Schedule initial consultations with doctors who have a high rating and are trained in performing the procedure you are looking to have done. Aside from conducting a search on the potential physicians to be sure they have all the skills, training, and credentials they need, it can definitely benefit to meet with various doctors to see if they possess the characteristics you are looking for in a doctor (i.e. caring, considerate, attentive, etc.).
Now, because there is the potential to have a surgical procedure performed by a doctor who isn’t qualified to treat you, that means there is also the chance that the doctor could make a mistake. In fact, many do. So, if you are someone who has suffered an injury or illness after undergoing cosmetic surgery in Mississippi and you believe it was caused by a negligent physician, contact Madison, MS personal injury attorney William E. Ballard. As a patient and a victim of a medical error, you do have rights and we can help you exercise those accordingly.
You can reach Ballard Law, PLLC. at:
108 S. President Street
Jackson, MS 39201
769-572-5111
Website: www.ballardlaw.ms
