Pre-surgery questions for your doctor

Take this list of questions with you when you go to your doctor or surgeon to discuss your surgery:

What operation are you recommending?

Why do I need the operation?

Are there alternatives to surgery?

What are the benefits of having the operation?

What are the risks of having the operation?

What if I don't have this operation?

Where can I get a second opinion?

What is your training and experience to do this kind of surgery?

Where will the operation be done?

Will I have to stay overnight in the hospital?

What kind of anesthesia will I need?

How long will it take me to recover?

How much will the operation cost?

On the day of the surgery, can you please mark the part of my body you will operate on?

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality E-mail to a friend