In the state of California, unnecessary surgery occurs every year. It is a common occurrence because people tend to believe what their doctors tell them without question, relying on the expertise of the medical professional they have chosen. In some cases, these are criminal acts. In other cases, a doctor lacks the competence to know when a procedure isn’t warranted.

Experts recommend that patients seek a second opinion when they are told they need any non-emergency surgery. If you are scheduled for any one of the following surgeries, it is even more important to seek the advice of another doctor. These surgeries carry a great amount of risk of being performed even though they are not necessary.

  • Cardiac angioplasties and pacemakers
  • Spinal fusion
  • Hysterectomy
  • Hip and knee replacement
  • Cesarean section

At times, a surgery is scheduled to due to a misdiagnosis, doubling a patient’s problems. When a patient takes the time to seek out a second opinion, they may avoid not only an unnecessary procedure, but the risks and lifelong effects of that procedure. For example, a knee replacement can take months to recover from and if physical therapy is not followed, the patient can experience changes in mobility that are never remedied.

Any patient that has undergone an unnecessary procedure is able to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice. It is important to seek the advice of an experienced medical malpractice attorney when deciding whether or not to file suit and seek compensation for any injuries incurred.