Question:
For a surgeon to be considered competent, what would you consider good in terms of

how many deaths/complications he has had? I'm not sure how to word this but my surgeon has lost 9 people out of like 3500. Would you feel this is a competent surgeon?    — Jan H. (posted on November 27, 2001)

November 27, 2001
I would look at much more than his mortality rate. Sometimes those are a fluke. Also, just because someone doesn't die, doesn't mean the surgeon did such a fantasic job on them either. I would ask if he does only one type of surgery because if he's done 3500 of ONE specific type of surgery, then he's probably experienced enough. But if he's done several types and some more than others, obviously, you want to have the surgery he's most experienced with. Are you considering open or Lap? This also makes a difference. If he's done 3500 open procedures and you are asking for a Lap, well, I'd go with open, because that's what he's most comfortable with. Finlly, once you've investigated all this, I would ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY talk to several of his patients. THEY will be able to tell you about his skills. Did they have complications? What caused the complications? What kind were they? Was the surgeon able to fix them? These are all questions you should also investigate, not just his mortality rate. Good luck! Maria
   — Maria H.

November 27, 2001
You can NOT trust a surgeon NOT to lie. I had one with a terrific personality (this was clear across the country-not that it matters) and he blew sunshine up my butt and I believed it. (He was a plastic surgeon). But I could never get him to show me pictures of any of his work or allow me to talk to any of his patients. THIS WOULD BE A RED FLAG TO ME NOW THAT I'M NOT NIEVE. Anyway, we now have the internet and this great site. We can email patients of our potential surgeons. (I did'nt have this option back in 1993 or I would'nt be on disability now). You can't trust the surgeon to tell the truth. Nor can you trust these medical boards to tell you the truth... my surgeon was on one of these "respected boards". Doctors cover doctors a##es! Just make sure you email/talk/write contact others who have had "your surgeon. You can find out your best information that way". Sure wish I had had that option almost 10 years ago. I'd be a different person both physically and emotionally now. Now my motto is The X-Files one: TRUST NO ONE. (Especially the medical and physchiatric professsions). You have the power to make an intellegent, informed choice... talk to his/her patients! :)
   — Danmark

November 27, 2001
I have heard a statistic that approximately 1 out of every 300 or so surgeries results in death. That means your surgeon is about "on schedule" regarding fatalities. As long as his reputation is good and his references check out, he's probably good. Thx.
   — Terissa R.

November 27, 2001
There are several things to consider when finding out about a doctor's mortality rate. One thing to check is the kind of patients he "accepts". Many surgeons will not operate on patients he/she considers high risk. They don't want to take the chance of increasing their mortality rate. Many kind and competent surgeons are dedicated to helping the morbid obese. They will perform WLS on patients who have an incredibly high BMI and many co morbidities. Obviously, these patients are higher risk and will sometimes die. These deaths increase the surgeon's mortality numbers, but unfairly in my opinion. Many times the surgeons with the most skill and competence actually have a higher rate than those less experienced simply due to the "types" of patients they will accept. I guess what I am saying is look beyond the numbers. Shelley
   — Shelley.