Can general surgeons do pro bono plastic work?

[workaholic181]

Asking for a friend who volunteers at a clinic fixing cleft palates. Wants to do similar work and is curious if this is possible with either plastics or gen surgery residencies.

Thanks!

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[neoevolution]

Legally, I think any licensed physician can do any medical procedure they feel comfortable with (even if insurance/hospitals/malpractice won't support you), but from googling it, it looks like the PRS department handles it at most hospitals so I don't know if you would get enough experience with the procedure from only gen surg residency.

 

[gyngyn]

A licensed physician can perform any procedure that they have been trained to do and for which they have privileges (and liability coverage).
One needs to be cautious when doing work for less than what is charged to Medicare (if you accept Medicare patients). It is fraud to charge less than the Medicare rate except under particular circumstances:
http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/alerts...ldiscounts.pdf

 

[TypeADissection]

Outside of ditzel-ectomies in non-cosmetic areas, rudimentary rotational myocutaneous flaps and skin grafts, I personally don't have enough plastics training in my residency to do any sort of substantial plastic surgery work, let alone pro bono. Although that would be my disclaimer: You're getting what you pay for...

 

[Smurfette]

Can a GS do it? Sure. Should GS do it...that's another matter.

But to the OP's question: if your friend wants to do cleft palate repairs, think plastics or ENT as the primary pathways to this. I've seen both fields do them. I know an ENT who does mission trips and fixes cleft lips/palates and loves it; there is definitely a need and plenty of charitable opportunities. There may be some old school peds surgeons who do them too, but this isn't typical.

 

[workaholic181]

Can a GS do it? Sure. Should GS do it...that's another matter.

But to the OP's question: if your friend wants to do cleft palate repairs, think plastics or ENT as the primary pathways to this. I've seen both fields do them. I know an ENT who does mission trips and fixes cleft lips/palates and loves it; there is definitely a need and plenty of charitable opportunities. There may be some old school peds surgeons who do them too, but this isn't typical.

Interesting, ENT hadn't occurred to me at all. I'll let her know. Thank you each for your responses!

 

[Wordead]

Interesting, ENT hadn't occurred to me at all. I'll let her know. Thank you each for your responses!

We (ENT) do them at a few select institutions in the US but it's largely plastics thats going to do anything craniofacial.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Interesting, ENT hadn't occurred to me at all. I'll let her know. Thank you each for your responses!

Your question doesn't make much sense.

If your friend is a resident, she should know what she can and can't do.

Otherwise if you're volunteering outside the US you can probably do anything you feel skilled at. In the US, it'll be harder to justify having a general surgeon doing a non-general surgical operation.

 

[workaholic181]

Your question doesn't make much sense.

If your friend is a resident, she should know what she can and can't do.

Otherwise if you're volunteering outside the US you can probably do anything you feel skilled at. In the US, it'll be harder to justify having a general surgeon doing a non-general surgical operation.

Both med school applicants, thus the question. Thanks for the response.

 

[cableguy555]

Asking for a friend who volunteers at a clinic fixing cleft palates. Wants to do similar work and is curious if this is possible with either plastics or gen surgery residencies.

Thanks!

This is the response I’ve gotten from my dad’s friend who is a general surgeon at UMDNJ. If you have your own private practice with on-site anesthesiologist, certified nurses etc... then you can perform any surgery you feel comfortable doing. BUT, on the other hand, nearly every state requires malpractice insurance that covers all medical procedures performed on site. It’s nearly impossible for a general surgeon to get malpractice coverage for the event something goes wrong performing a plastic surgery specific procedure. For example a cosmetic rhinoplasty which ends up leaving the patient unable to breathe through the nose.

In addition, no anesthioogist or certified nurse would want to be associated with someone who is doing procedures that may expose them to legal liability.

In some states, the Board of Medecine takes such issues very seriously. For example, Massachusetts has refused to recertifiy the licenses of many doctors wishing to practice general family medicine after a career in surgery. Massachusetts requires a minimum of 6 months of “physician supervised training” before accepting patients for general checkups.

On the other hand, in Florida, an family doctor is not prohibited from performing a heart transplant lol.