The laws that regulate medicine in this country do not make much sense sometimes. Further they are made to satisfy a lobbyist with a big checkbook, not the patient. I agree with everything the questioner poses. A doctor should be trained and certified in the specialty that trains physicians to perform a certain procedure. Now there is certainly an overlap between specialities, for example - both plastic surgeons and ENT physicians are trained to perform rhinoplasties. But There is no reason that an oral surgeon should be performing anything other than oral surgery, unless he or she takes the requisite training to be a plastic surgeon.
From the patients perspective, become educated, look up your physicians record, their training and talk to their patients. Do your homework and you will be rewarded.
It is a shame!
Robert M. Freund, MD answers: Why are oral surgeons allowed to do breast reduction surgery?
In today's Seattle PI there is a story about a woman who is suing an oral surgeon for a botched breast reduction ("Oral Surgeon faces new suit"). The doctor also has a record of a cosmetic facial procedure that led to a death. How does this happen in the first place? The story says the doctor was not trained in plastic surgery. Why isn't this against the law, or is it?
A: One would think that there would be laws against this!
This is a good question and there really is no answer.
Unfortunately, almost anyone can set up shop and unknowing patients fall victim to unscrupulous doctors (and non doctors). My best advice to you is to throughly research your doctors prior to seeing them. Go to the internet, message boards, talk to friend, etc. Also, look at your doctor's credentials. Do they have a board certification? Are they on the staff of a reputable hospital? Have they had any sanctions against them? If you are at their office, ask yourself why they are performing the surgery in their back room and not in a certified operating room. In this day and age, all of this information is available and you should use all of these tools so that you are an informed patient and not a victim.
I hope this is helpful.
David Shafer, MD
Shafer Palstic Srugery - New York City
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