by Expert Witness for Plaintiff and Defense on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 9:10pm

WHY DO PATIENTS DIE DURING PLASTIC COSMETIC SURGERY?

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George Commons to post, Halperin

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DEATH DURING PLASTIC SURGERY . A-4 IN  (DEATH AND DISASTER IN SURGERY) SERIES BY DR GEORGE COMMONS, MD

by George W. Commons, M.D. Plastic Surgery Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 9:02pm

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DEATH CAN OCCUR IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:

1.  Unhealthy Patients who are not good candidates are nevertheless taken to surgery die more frequently

2.  Death occurs sometimes when surgery is done in poorly managed facilities that, certified or not, are simply not safe. Example is a facility run on a shoestring budget to improve the profit or simply seem more competitive in price to the patient.

3.  Death may occur when MD anesthesiologists are not in attendance at every case.

4.  A non licensed  nursing and tech staff may  result in the death of a patient..

5.  An ill equipped and poorly trained surgeon can contribute to death.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENJOY SURGERY AND NOT DIE IN THE PROCESS?

1. Consult with at least 3 or 4 surgeons that frequently do the procedure you are considering and can and do prove it to you.   Demand they show you their operating facility and give you a tour. Do not accept NO for an answer.  Demand your surgeon arrange for you to talk to you anesthesiologist early on and ideally at the same time as you consultation or in a day or two.  Demand you surgeon introduce you to the surgical staff and ask them their credentials.  Require your surgeon to give you his CV and require him to, in detail, explain his training to you.   Insist on seeing pictures of his actual patients.   If a surgeon is evasive or defensive about this walk out.

2. Meet you anesthesiologist by phone or face to face as a part of your surgical consultation.

3.  Visit the operating facility and talk to the head nurse.  Ask credentials.   Ask to see the facility accreditation.

4. Get a physical and see if you are healthy.  Demand that your surgeon and internist talk by phone about your surgery.  Insist you internist send your plastic surgeon a full physical.

5. Ask about you surgeons interests and publications over he past several years and over the past decade.

6. Insist your surgeon do a second consultation to fully explain his plan to you.  Be sure he listens to you and take notes.

7.  Inquire about what may occur that could cause death in the surgery you are considering.  Remember every year people die have virtually any type of plastic surgery, large and small.

8.  Do not rush into surgery.  Check out safety in every way described.

YOUR LIFE IS AT STAKE.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK. YOU WANT TO ENJOY PLASTIC SURGERY AND NOT DIE HAVING IT.

Our facility, the Plastic Surgery Center, at 1515 El Camino Real in Palo Alto is an excellent and beautifully run facility.  Our center has been up and running for 21years and over  21,000 cases.  Our safety record is perfect.  We put your safety  number one and equally with a great result.  You will be always safe and well cared for.

My credential, training, experience, record, staff, facility, and anesthesiologist are all open 100% to you and responsive to your questions. I invite any question about anything and everything you wish to know.  The reason I am at 1515 El Camino Real is for you…to help YOU, My Patient.

www.pacfps.com

650-328-4570

YOUNG FEMALE PATIENT OF DR GEORGE COMMONS THAT HAD LIPOSCULPTURE OF WAIST, HIPS, AND ABDOMEN FOR A LOVELY ENHANCEMENT.  IT IS SO CRITICAL TO KEEP HER SAFE DURING SURGERY SO SHE WILL HAVE A LIFETIME OF ENJOYING HER BEAUTIFUL RESULTS.

–

George Commons, M. D.

www.pacfps.com

www.gcommonsmd.com

www.facebook.com/expertwitness

www.facebook.com/drcommons

www.facebook.com/plasticsurgery1

Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Surgery division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine

Diplomat, AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

Member, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

Member, California Society of Plastic Surgeons

Member,Santa Clara County Medical Society

Member, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGERY

Fellow, AMERICAN COLLEGE of SURGEONS

by George W. Commons, M.D. Plastic Surgery Center on JULY 5,2011

WHY DO 20 PATIENTS A YEAR (AVERAGE) DIE WHILE HAVING FACELIFT SURGERY IN THE USA?

DR GEORGE COMMONS HAS OBSERVED STATISTICS OVER A CAREER IN PRIVATE PLASTIC SURGERY, AS A CLINICAL MEMBER OF STANFORD’S FACULTY,  AS AN EXPERT WITNESS AND CONSULTANT IN MEDICAL LITIGATION,  AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF MANY PLASTIC SURGERY ORGANIZATIONS.

DR COOMMONS HAS NEVER HAD A PATIENT DEATH OE EVEN AN EMERGENCY TRANSFER IN OVER 30 YEARS OF PRACTICE.  WHY?  HE ATTRIBUTES THIS PERFECT SAFETY RECORD TO HIS ADHERENCE TO THE 5 PILLARS OF PATIENT SAFETY;  SAFE HEALTHY PATIENTS, SAFE OPERATING FACILITIES, SAFE ANESTHESIOLOGISTS AND ANESTHESIOLOGISTS AT EVERY CASE, SAFE FULLY CALIFORNIA LICENSED NURSES AND TECHNICIANS AS STAFF ,  AND TO THE EXHAUSTIVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND PERFECTION  BY THE SURGEON.

PATIENTS THAT HAVE DIED IN THE USA DURING FACELIFT SURGERY INCLUDE:

1.  A 58 YEAR OLD MALE WHO WAS NEGLECTED BY THE RECOVERY NURSE AND SLEPT TO DEATH (RESPIRATORY DEATH)

2.  A 55 YEAR OLD LADY WHO HAD A RESPIRATORY ARREST IN RECOVERY THAT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED BECAUSE THE NURSE TURNED OFF THE ALARMS BECAUSE THE NOISE BOTHERED HER.

3.  A 44 YEAR OLD FEMALE WHO DIED ON THE TABLE AT SURGERY BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE SEDATION BY THE SURGEON.  (NO ANESTHESIOLOGIST PRESENT).

4.  A 82 YEAR OLD LADY WHO HAD A FACELIFT AND LIPOSUCTION LASTING 8 HOURS AND DIED OF A HEART ATTACK ON SURGERY.  ( TOO MUCH AND TOO LONG FOR 82 YEAR OLD)

5.  A 67 YEAR OLD LADY DIE IN SURGERY AFTER BEING GIVEN THE WRONG DRUG BY THE NURSE.

6.  A 72 YEAR OLD LADY WHO HAD A STROKE DURING A 7 HOUR FACELIFT AND DIED ONE DAY LATER. (PATIENT HAD UNTREATED HYPERTENSION AND WAS A POOR CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY)

7.  A 48 YEAR OLD LADY DIED OF A BLOOD CLOT TO HER LUNGS 3 DAYS AFTER A FACELIFT. ( NO MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO PROTECT PATIENT AGAINST SUCH PHENOMENA)

8.  A 54 YEAR OLD FEMALE WHO WAS A SEVERE DIABETIC DIED THE NIGHT AFTER FACELIFT SURGERY. ( SHE HAD BEEN SENT HOME AND SHOULD HAVE GONE TO A CARE FACILITY)

9.  A 60 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH SEVERE HYPERTENSION HAD A SEVERE BLEEDING EPISODE 5 HOURS AFTER A FACELIFT AND DIED OF RESPIRATORY OBSTRUCTION AND NEGLECT AT HER HOME.  (NO CARETAKER WAS WITH PATIENT.  HYPERTENSION WAS UNCONTROLLED AND NO EFFORT TO MANAGE = NON CANDIDATE FOR FACELIFT).

10. 49 YEAR OLD FEMALE DIED IN SURGERY DUE TO MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA AND INADEQUATE TREATMENT BY ANESTHESIOLOGIST ERROR AND FACILITY THAT DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER DRUG (DANTRILENE)

THE LIST COULD GO ON AND ON.  THIS IS 1/2 OF JUST ONE YEAR.   MORE TO FOLLOW REGARDING SPECIFIC CASES AND PREVENTION.

BE CAREFUL!  SEEK A SAFE SURGEON CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY AND VERY FAMILIAR WITH FACELIFT SURGERY AND CARE.

CHOOSE A SURGEON WITH A FACILITY THAT IS SUPREME AND CAN PROVE IT.  VISIT THE FACILITY.

DEMAND TO SPEAK TO YOUR ANESTHESIOLOGIST AS PART OF YOUR CONSULTATION WITH YOUR SURGEON.  MEET YOU ANESTHESIOLOGIST IN PERSON LONG BEFORE YOUR SURGERY.

MAKE THE SURGEON PROVE THE STAFF CONSISTES OF LICENSED NURSES (RNS) AND SURGICAL TECHNICIANS.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE HEALTHY.  HAVE A COMPLETE PHYSICAL.  YOU NEVER KNOW.  YOU COULD HAVE SILENT HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, OR HYPERTENSION.

BE SMART AND SURVIVE YOUR FACELIFT SO YOU CAN ENJOY IT.  THE FACELIFT IS A GREAT PROCEDURE AS LONG AS YOU LIVE TO ENJOY IT.

DR GEORGE COMMONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION   650-328-4570

SEE FOLLOWING PATIENT OF DR COMMONS WHO HAD A LOVELY FACELIFT AND HAS ENJOYED IT FOR OVER 15 YEARS.

by George W. Commons, M.D. Plastic Surgery Center on July 5, 2011

Death can and does occur during liposuction surgery.   The death rate may be as high as 15 patients a year in the USA.   What factors result in death.  The answer is simple.

1.  Inappropriate candidate because of age, health, diabetes, or morbid obesity.

2.  Unsafe operating facility that is poorly run whether certified or not.  A shabby facility on a shoestring budget, which is run by people more interested in money than safety

3.  Unsafe anesthesiologists or worse yet doing liposuction with no MD anesthesiologist present. An outrage definitely

4.  A weak surgical facility staff with no RNs in charge that uses unlicensed people to assist in surgery and has no RN management or presence in the Operating Facility or in the Recovery Room.  Unfortunately this is not rare.

5.   Surgeons that are not certified by official medical boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialists doing liposuction with poor and little training.  Surgeons who may be certified but are uncaring and just not very smart.  Pick your surgeon well.  Seek consultation with much thought and research.

SOLUTION :  Choose surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who are also Fellows of the American College of Surgeons.   May absolutely sure they do liposuction frequently.  Ask about their Operating Facilities and visit the Facility.   Ask to speak to your anesthesiologist at the time of you plastic surgery consultation and not the night before surgery or worse yet the morning of surgery.  Have a physical examination prior to you surgery.   Ask about staff RNs and surgical technicians that will be at your surgery and ask to speak to them.  Are they licensed by the state of California?

YOUR LIFE IS PRECIOUS!  DO YOUR HOMEWORK. SEEK OUT HIGH QUALITY.  DO NOT CHOOSE LIPOSUCTION ON BASIS OF COST.   YOU CAN DIE DURING LIPOSUCTION.  DO NOT BE FOOLISH.  BE VERY VERY INTELLIGENT.

DR COMMONS FACILITY HAS A PERFECT 21 YEAR RECORD WITH OVER 26,000 CASES.   THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEATHS, NO LAWSUITS, NO EMERGENCY TRANSFERS, NO RESISTANT INFECTIONS, AND NO INFECTIONS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION.  AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST IS PRESENT AT 100% OF DR COMMONS CASES.  AT LEAST 2 RNS ARE PRESENT FOR EVERY CASE.   ALL SURGICAL TECHNICIANS ARE CALIFORNIA LICENSED

THE PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER IS FULLY ACCREDITED BY QUAD A AND IS CERTIFIED AS EQUAL TO A STANFORD OPERATING FACILITY BY STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.  STANFORD FULL TIME PROFESSORS CONTRACT TO USE THE PSC REGULARLY.

DR COMMONS IS A ADJUNCT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SURGERY AT THE STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DR COMMONS HAS DONE LIPOSUCTION ON OVER 3600 PATIENTS.  HE HAS HAD NO DEATHS, NO EMERGENCIES, AND HAS MANY THOUSANDS OF HAPPY PATIENTS.

DR COMMONS IS A RECOGNIZED EXPERT IN LIPOSUCTION SURGERY LOCALLY, STATEWIDE, NATIONALLY, AND INTENTIONALLY.

DR COMMONS HAS PUBLISHED THE WORLDS LARGEST SERIES OF LARGE VOLUME LIPOSUCTION IN 2001 AND IS WRITING A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE PRESENTLY ON OVER 955 LARGE VOLUME LIPOSUCTIONS.

DR COMMONS IS A MEMBER OF EVERY LOCAL, STATE, NATIONA, L AND INTERNATIONAL PLASTICSURGERY ORGANIZATION.

DR COMMONS IS CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY AND IS A FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

SAFETY IS VIRTUALLY GUARANTEED WHEN YOU COME TO DR COMMONS AND THE PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER.

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