Choosing to undergo surgery is a serious decision made with all information available, and when a patient is suffering from an illness or trying to recover from an injury, it’s comforting to know that they have a reliable surgeon performing the procedure.
But due to the practice of concurrent surgery, the surgeon performing your surgery might not be who you expect. Keep reading to find out what concurrent surgeries are and what they mean for patients. Read on for the answers to questions like:
- What are Concurrent Surgeries?
- Why Do Hospitals Schedule Concurrent Surgeries?
- What Are the Potential Problems with Concurrent Surgeries?
- What Do Lawyers Recommend Regarding Concurrent Surgeries?
- What Should I Ask My Doctor Before Scheduling Surgery?
- What Are My Options if I’ve Already Consented to a Concurrent Surgery?
- Was My Surgical Complication Due to Concurrent Surgery?
What Are Concurrent Surgeries?
Concurrent surgeries occur when one surgeon oversees two surgical procedures at the same time, and the critical parts overlap in timing, making it difficult for the surgeon to be present for some of and sometimes all of both. This is different from overlapping surgeries, where the critical parts are staggered, allowing the surgeon to perform both.
Why Do Hospitals Schedule Concurrent Surgeries?
Not all hospitals agree on the practice, but concurrent surgeries are performed at notable hospitals across the country, including Massachusetts General Hospital.
The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team reported that hospitals allowing double-booking see it as an efficient use of top specialists, reducing wasted operating room time. MGH analyzed orthopedic cases from 2013-2014, finding no significant difference in complication rates between overlapping and non-overlapping cases.
But some MGH employees, including anesthesiologists, reported numerous problems with concurrent surgeries, raising concerns about patient care and medical practice from 2005 to 2015.
What Are the Potential Problems with Concurrent Surgeries?
Concurrent surgeries pose ethical concerns as attending surgeons may be stretched too thin, which can affect patient care.
While there are scenarios where concurrent surgical procedures may be necessary—such as an emergency situation requiring more procedures than available surgeons—this is not often the case. But hospitals schedule concurrent surgeries during elective procedures to maximize efficiency.
Regardless of experience or skill, your doctor can only be in one place at a time. Concurrent surgeries mean the attending surgeon’s attention is divided, which can lead to delays in addressing complications, increased time under anesthesia, and the involvement of less qualified surgeons handling critical aspects of a procedure.
If My Surgeon Isn’t Performing the Whole Operation, Who Is?
It’s common to assume the attending surgeon will be performing the entire surgical procedure, but some of these procedures take hours. It’s logical that surgical residents, essentially trainees, might perform the simpler, more routine aspects of procedures under supervision, while the attending surgeons are responsible for the important, more difficult aspects of each surgery.
For example, it is common for residents to “close up the surgical site” while a surgeon explains how the surgery went to the patient’s family.
While surgical residents are trained and capable of performing the aspects of procedures that they are expected to, if an attending surgeon is performing another surgery in another room, the resident is now left to operate on a patient without supervision. The patient likely isn’t expecting their procedure to be done by anyone besides the surgeon they spoke with.
What Do Lawyers Recommend Regarding Concurrent Surgeries?
Attorneys Julie Jyang and Jeff Catalano know that a lot is expected of hospitals, and when surgery is needed, patients and their families go through potentially life altering decisions. The transparency of informing patients about concurrent surgeries raises ethical questions, especially when buried in fine print.
What Should I Ask My Doctor Before Scheduling Surgery?
Understanding that concurrent surgeries have been performed at hospitals throughout the region, here are five questions Jyang and Catalano suggest asking before scheduling a procedure.
- How will a concurrent surgery affect my care?
- What can/will you (the surgeon) do to ensure my safety during a concurrent surgery?
- How does the medical team work together during a concurrent surgery?
- What is the plan if something goes wrong?
- Can I meet with the members of the surgical team who will be involved with my surgery? Can you explain their roles/involvement?
>> Keches Law, Jeff Catalano Settle Medical Malpractice Case for $1.45 Million
What Are My Options if I’ve Already Consented to a Concurrent Surgery?
If you’ve asked the questions and found out that your surgery is happening concurrently with another procedure, what options do you have as a patient?
“Speak up! Schedule a meeting with the surgeon or provider about your concerns or questions about the practice,” Jyang says. “Get clear communication and clear answers to your satisfaction. Be as educated as possible on the practice. Know what your options are – are there alternatives where you can avoid concurrent surgeries? Can you get a second opinion?”
Was My Surgical Complication Due to Concurrent Surgery?
If you suffered complications during surgery, you may want to review your surgical records and have a conversation with your healthcare provider to find out if your procedure was performed concurrently.
Transparency is important in establishing trust between a medical facility and its patients. Determining if your surgeon was focused on you during your procedure or if their attention was divided without your knowledge is key to establishing whether your complications could’ve been avoided.
The American College of Surgeons describes informed consent as an ethical standard meant to enhance the surgeon/patient relationship. All information should be presented accurately and compassionately.
What Details Should Medical Providers Disclose Before a Procedure?
- The nature of the illness and what would happen without treatment
- Potential operation details and risks
- Common complications and benefits of the operation
- Alternative treatment options, including avoiding surgery
- The different medical providers who will participate in the surgery and their roles, which is especially relevant for concurrent surgeries
>> Keches Law Attorneys Offer Advice to Aspiring Lawyers, Law Students
Contact Keches Law for Help After Your Surgical Complications
Keches Law Group supports patients affected by concurrent surgeries. If you had a procedure done with unnecessary complications you believe are due to concurrent surgery, contact our skilled medical malpractice attorneys for help.
We can help you determine if you were the victim of concurrent surgery and what the next steps you should take are. Contact us today.
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