Can a Surgical Assistant Help Directly in a Liposuction Surgeon Under Direct Supervision ?

Question

Misbah Khan MD, FAAD, FACMS · Answer

great question. my understanding is that in the state of NY a medical assistant CANNOT assist during a surgery. they cannot remove stitches, they cannot provide hands-on care to any patient, including the OR procedures. with that said, some MAs are very talented, experienced and work in close relationship with their doctors and are familiar with surgeries. the most important thing to keep in mind is that in the event of a complication/lawsuit the court will hold the responsible authority fully liable for the mistakes made by the assistants, especially if they were not allowed to assist in the first place.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

This is an excellent question!  First, in terms of the procedure itself, liposuction is performed by the operating surgeon alone and the role of any assistants in the OR is minimal.  Second, if you are inquiring in legal terms, this would depend upon the credentials of the individual and state laws.  It is clear in NY that a non-licensed individual cannot suture or suction so if you are referring to an unlicensed medical assistant, the role of such a person in the OR would not include these capacities.  It would be helpful if you defined what you mean by "help directly".  A licensed PA or MA should not be performing the liposuction itself but can assist at surgery  The "operator" must hold a medical license valid in the state.  I hope that this helps!

Can a Surgical Assistant Help Directly in a Liposuction Surgeon Under Direct Supervision ?

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Answers (2)

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