If a doctor writes on their website that they've never lost a patient or had an anesthesia complication can I trust them?

Question

In my search of finding the right surgeon for a nose job in my area, I found one with 31 years of experience who has done at least 3000 noses. He has mostly excellent reviews. His website says that thanks to the fact that he is selective in making sure patients are healthy he's never lost a patient and he and his anesthesiologists have never had a complication. However, I saw that one of his anesthesiologists has a malpractice suit. I'm taking this seriously since every surgery has risks.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

All doctors have a lawsuit at one time or another. You don’t know why the anesthesiologist was named in a suit or if was even with this plastic surgeon. Deaths from cosmetic surgery are so rare that when the occur you usually hear about it in tv or read or in the papers. It sounds like reading too much into the incident with the anesthesiologist. You can ask your surgeon for an explanation if you like. The suit could be something minor, not a death, or you could ask to use another anesthesiologist.

Daniel Zeichner, MD · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!We used to say "if you haven't had a complication (with a certain procedure), you haven't done enough of them!".Everyone has complications. Every plastic surgeon screens his / her patients for the presence of disease with a thorough history and physical examination as well as performing preoperative blood tests (EKGs and radiographic studies if indicated).  In spite of this, totally unexpected complications occasionally occur. 31 years without a problem is quite a long time...Malpractice suits don't necessarily reflect any less than competent activity by a physician. They usually arises from dissatisfaction with a result or a complication. Risks of cosmetic surgery are extremely small. If you don't nightmares about driving your car (which is less safe), you should not be concerned with the surgical risk!If you feel ill at ease after your consultation, seek a second opinion.Best wishes...

If a doctor writes on their website that they've never lost a patient or had an anesthesia complication can I trust them?

Answers (2)

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