Having Surgery? Are You Asking All The Right Questions??

I have been away for awhile. However, I am back and thought I would kick off my 2015 blogging with some of the basics. Although such things as age, gender, health status, surgical procedure and medications are all important to consider when one is having surgery, there are some general questions that everyone should be asking his or her doctors. In subsequent weeks, I will provide more insight into each question and I certainly encourage questions from readers. In the meantime, here are the questions all should consider:

1. Do you really need to have the surgery? Elective versus non-elective. Surgery is not without risk.
2. Is your health optimized before undergoing surgery and who can determine that?
   
3. What pre-operative tests are necessary to evaluate your health and assess your risk?
4. Do you understand the exact nature of the surgery, the anesthetic choices and the peri-operative plan?
5. How well do you know your surgeon,anesthesiologist, operating room staff and overall care team?
   
6. What do you know about the facility at which you will have your surgery ?
7. Do you know what to expect from a hospital stay?
8. What are your rights as a patient?
9. Is there a comprehensive discharge plan and do you have the resources available once you are home?
10. What if you have a complication from the surgery or anesthesia?

The aforementioned serve as general questions to consider and that will inevitably give rise to many more. It is your body. It is your health. Take control and demand answers.