The selection of a surgeon can often mean the difference between having a fantastic result or of making a medical condition go from bad to worse. I recently had the privilege of appearing on “The Doctors” with Dr. Drew Orden during a segment on how to select a plastic surgeon. For over twenty years Dr. Orden has practiced aesthetic plastic and reconstructive surgery New York City, Beverly Hills and Rancho Mirage.

Our South Florida medical malpractice law firm believes that before undergoing any elective procedure you should obtain a number of opinions from various surgeons. Selecting a surgeon based upon the lowest price is rarely the best decision. We also recommend that patients do research on their potential doctors. Florida Statutes section 458.320 is the law that regulates the financial responsibility of doctors. Unbeknownst to most people, Florida does not require that doctors carry medical malpractice insurance. Accordingly, you should go to the Florida Department of Health’s website (or the equivalent for the state in which you reside) to verify that your potential surgeon is in fact licensed and has staff privileges at a near by hospital.

Many plastic surgeons will send you to a “friendly” doctor to clear you for an elective surgery. As a lawyer who has sued plastic and cosmetic surgeons for over 20 years I recommend that you go to your own primary care physician or find an independent internist to perform the preoperative clearance.

Lastly, many states allow doctors to perform plastic and cosmetic surgeries that are not actually trained or board certified in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Since 1933, the ABMS has certified doctors to help patients and hospital identify doctors who are able to provide specialty health care in a number of medical. In all, there are 24 medical specialties and sub-specialties.

As an attorney who sues doctors in Florida who operate on the wrong site, we believe that every patient should take the time to understand not only the kind of procedure they are undergoing but as much as possible about the person performing the surgery. The information enables a patient to make informed decisions about their care and hopefully prevent them from becoming a victim of cosmetic surgery malpractice.