Medical Clearance for Surgery?

Though many individuals think surgical tourism is safe, worthwhile, cost-effective, and a perfectly elective risk for those who are willing to take it, it is equally appropriate for those of us who feel otherwise to not facilitate things that we might feel are harmful to our patients.Of course your physician has the right to refuse to do something she feels is "wrong" or inadvisable, just as you have the "right" to make bad decisions since they affect only you.But that is the mistake, since it will be one of your local physicians who will have to "pick up the pieces" if you have a problem that needs attention here. And your family to shoulder the costs. And your coworkers to cover the time off. Etc. Why do you think surgery is cheaper in the DC? There is little to no follow-up, no malpractice (and therefore no recourse if you have a problem), just operate and off the patient goes! That's called negligence here in the USA, and that would be a medical malpractice lawsuit. So why are you so gung-ho to flaunt your safety, your outcome, and perhaps your life?Certainly no one here can give you guarantees either, but there is oversight in training, certification, facility, anesthesia medications, follow-up, and medicolegal safeguards designed to keep us providers in line with "best practices." There are good doctors everywhere, but even those are not perfect. Cheap Charlie is cheap for a reason.The good doctors will try to discuss "reason" with you--it appears you are "ready" for "the talk." Like a stubborn teenager, I'm imagining. They were always "right" too. Good luck and best wishes! Really. Dr. Tholen

Hello! Thank you for your question. Prior to consenting to surgery you should know your surgeons credentials; what specialty they are board certified in. You should not be having plastic surgery from a surgeon who was trained to be a skin doctor or even a heart doctor, nor should you be having surgery by someone who is not trained to be a surgeon. It is not good enough to be a physician, the physician must be trained in the specialty. Despite the potential attraction of plastic surgery tourism (lower cost, tropical environments) there are a number of dangers and it is important you ask and seek answers to those questions. Your physician does have the right to refuse something he or she may feel can be jeopardizing to your health.  

Hi... thank you for the question... As a human you have your rights to decide were and with who you want to have your surgery, an the physician have to be a Doctor and do there work without judging.

 Your doctor can choose to practice medicine anyway she wants to. It's not really her responsibility  to order a preoperative workup including x-rays and labs. I would imagine most primary care physician's would be happy to write a letter of medical clearance if they deem you ready for elective surgery regardless of where you choose to have it. giving medical clearance and ordering  preoperative testing are not quite the same.  if you're in good health then you should not need medical clearance.If you're not in good health then it may not be such a sound idea to travel to a Third World country for elective surgery.   i'm sure you've thought about this quite a bit.This was a recent article I saw  that will attest to why I i'm not a fan of the idea of traveling to the Dominican Republic for cosmetic surgery Dominican authorities have shut down a plastic surgery clinic as theyinvestigate the death of a U.S. woman who traveled to the Caribbeancountry to undergo a liposuction procedure, officials said Sunday.The prosecutor's office in Santo Domingo said the 23-year-old womantraveled to the Dominican Republic two days before her April 23procedure but did not disclose where she was from in the U.S.The clinic is run by Dr. Edgar Contreras, who has been the subject ofthree other probes by Dominican investigators over the years. He couldnot be immediately contacted for comment.The U.S. citizen is the fourth woman and the second American who hasdied so far this year at Dominican plastic surgery clinics. Theyinclude a 35-year-old from Hawaii identified who authorities say diedafter a liposuction procedure and a 24-year-old woman who died from anembolism in February after undergoing surgery to have implants removedfrom her buttocks.Last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventionreported that at least 19 women in five states had developed seriousmycobacterial wound infections following cosmetic procedures in theDominican Republic such as liposuction, tummy tucks and breastimplants.The Caribbean country, like nations such as Thailand, Mexico and CostaRica, has promoted itself as a destination for medical tourism,so-called because people will often tack on a few days at a resortbefore or after undergoing surgery. Best,Mats Hagstrom M.D.