Checklist for surgery patients

Lawyers who work on medical negligence cases have warned of a rising wave of litigation against surgeons who may be operating outside their areas of expertise. Solicitors including Seamus Donegan, of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, have suggested the following list of questions for would-be surgery patients to ask their general practitioner when a referral is made:

Is there a choice of specialist, rather than just accepting one name?

If the GP is making a recommendation, is the specialist qualified to carry out the procedure?

How often has the GP referred patients to the specialist, and what were the outcomes?

Is there any arrangement that is influencing the GP in his recommendation?Jane Moir