In the United States alone, millions of women undergo plastic surgery without knowing a piece of valuable information. Is your doctor a board certified surgeon? Chances are he or she may be, but there is one important question that most women never ask. Does your doctor carry an insurance against medical malpractice?
If you end up with a botched procedure the doctor may not pay for any damages, not to mention how the majority of all lawyers won’t take the case.
A shocking reality
An article at the Wall Street Journal mentions, “The American Medical Association has changed its policy to reflect the growing number of uninsured physicians, especially from Florida. In the past, the doctors' group recommended that physicians carry sufficient malpractice insurance to protect themselves and their patients. But in December 2002, AMA policy makers voted to cut the recommendation and leave the decision to doctors.”
What does this mean? Very simple, in many states within the U.S., most doctors are not required to carry insurance against medical malpractice. If after surgery and recuperation a patient is not able to resume his or her regular activities, he or she is on its own.
How could you know if the doctor is insured?
If you’re planning a cosmetic procedure, inside your doctor’s office there should be a sign stating that he or she has chosen not to be insured. In Florida alone, not only are most plastic surgeons not covered, but many other doctors practicing in different branches of medicine, like OBGYN’s have also gone bare.
What happens if the doctor is not insured?
If you were to get a “botched” procedure chances are you’ll have to pay for reconstructive surgery out of pocket. Most lawyers won’t take a case where the doctor is not insured as there is a very high rate of not seeing any money.
Knowing if your surgeon is board certified is extremely important. As women we want to look and feel our best, but saving a few dollars here and there could cost us way more on the long run. Investing in someone who we know will do a great job is key.
Always consider that humans are not perfect and if something were to go wrong, you are going to need money to fix the problem. Florida, is not the best state to get plastic surgery and although there are surgeons who are covered, doing extra research could save you a lot of trouble. However, there are other states, where doctors are required to obtain coverage.
Were you aware of this law?