Question:
I AM CONSIDERING LETTING A RESIDENT DO MY SURGERY AT DR RUBINS OFFICE ANY FEEDBACK?
— parkert33 (posted on September 16, 2010)
September 16, 2010
What sort of experience does the resident have with laproscopic procedures?
Will you be among the first few people s/he's operated on for WLS? Do you
have a choice in the matter? If so, why would consider a resident over a
board-certified bariatric surgeon?
— MastoDon
September 16, 2010
Usually the resident is not alone, the regular surgeon will be there too,
so in case he is needed. I would say go for it...but only if your regular
surgeon will be there too. Good luck with your decision, and your surgery.
— Jane W.
September 16, 2010
I DO HAVE A CHOICE BUT SINCE IM PAYING CASH ITS ALOT CHEAPER TO GO WITH A
RESIDENT, TX FOR YOUR INPUT
— parkert33
September 16, 2010
what type of surgery? w/o insurance coverage I may have considered that
myself. but I would have to think on it long and hard. All of the input
from others is good, but in the end you have to be satisfied and CONFIDENT
of your decision.
— caxb2009
September 16, 2010
I was only the second surgery my surgeon did, and it was fine. So that is
somewhat close to a resident, right?
— [Deactivated Member]
September 17, 2010
I would be would not want to have a resident work on me but then they have
to start somewhere and someone will be over seeing the surgery. If they are
doing a bypass it can have a lot of complications even with expereince so I
would not but it is up to you what you are comfortable with.
— trible
September 17, 2010
Go for it. I had serious complications from my wls and my surgeon was
experienced and highly recommended.
— Kathleen W.
September 17, 2010
of course it's ultimately up to you, but if you are paying cash for the
procedure because you don't have insurance or because your insurance won't
cover the procedure then I would consider whether they will cover any
complication from the surgery should they arise. You may save some cash in
the short term but not in the long term...just something to think about.
Complications can happy in any surgery no matter how seasoned the surgeon.
— Tangerine4
September 17, 2010
I know residents have to start somewhere but I sure wouldn't let it be me!!
The advice that I got is that you want a surgeon who's done at least 1,000
of them. remember that you'll have to be the one living with any possible
complications for the rest of your life, not the resident.
— Alicia H.
September 20, 2010
As others have said, I would have some reservations about this and would
need more information before even attempting to comment about this but with
the little there is here I would say that these things come to mind: 1)
which surgery is it?, 2) is it lap or open, 3) how many of these surgeries
has this resident done so far (personally I am not going to be ANYBODY'S
guinea pig!!), 4) who exactly is going to supervise the surgery and what
are THEIR qualifications and 5) what is the complication rate of the
resident's prior surgeries (assuming you are not going to be the first or
one of the first). Also, as stated, will your insurance cover any
complications of a surgery they didn't approve or are you subject to a
pre-existing clause then? Is follow-up care and nutritionist visits
covered? See, there are too many questions without answers here. Now of
course you may already know these answers but if not, I suggest starting by
asking them as well as any others that come to mind. I understand wanting
the surgery and the difficult place you are in when insurance refuses to
cover it but you have to make sure that you aren't going from the frying
pan into the fire by not only having a surgery that your insurance won't
cover but by having it by someone who may be inexperienced. Be careful!
— Kellye C.
September 23, 2010
This is and advanced laproscopic proceedure. No way would I let a resident
touch me. If you are paying cash and you have a complication, your
insurance will not cover it. Then you are responsible. I have seen patients
with bills well over a million dollars because of complications. It's like
the Fram filter commercials " you can pay me now or you can pay me
later" and later is very expensive. This is how lawsuits get started.
You get wiped out and have a mountain of expenses and you go to a lawyer
and the next thing you know you are in a lawsuit with more expenses. I have
seen it happen. Good luck with what ever you decide.
— jdterrell
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