Surgery is an extensively practiced medical or dental specialty which makes use of surgical technique and operative methods on an individual to study or treat an anatomical condition like an injury or a disease, to enhance physical function, appearance, or even to repair any damaged or dysfunctional parts. It may also be performed on the face or other parts of the body. The word ‘surgery’ derives from Greek words ‘sura’, meaning body and ‘spear’ meaning attack or weapon. Surgeons make use of all tools, apparatus, and equipment like knives, scissors, scalpels, etc for performing surgery successfully.
The definition of Surgery can also be taken as the process of dissection in living organisms. Surgery, as defined by Wikipedia, is the discipline of operating on living persons. In surgery, incisions are made in the body’s tissue either for inserting and removing tissues, treating disorders or reconstructing a part of the body. In this definition surgery covers various procedures like cardiothoracic surgery (the treatment and prevention of heart diseases), facial surgery (to correct facial defects), limb surgery (including repairing limbs that have been paralyzed), pediatric surgery (to correct birth defects in children), reconstructive surgery (to repair abnormal structures in the human body), hip surgery (to reinstate and restore proper functioning of hip joints), and plastic surgery (to correct or improve physical appearance of patients after accidents or illnesses). In some cases surgery can also be a part of medicine (complementary and alternative medicine). So we can say that surgery covers any modalities of intervention in human body which allows the doctor or health care professional to perform his duties and post-treatment.
Now coming to the example of a sample letter for a surgeon’s support in his practice. This letter has some important tips and features like a brief introduction of the candidate (who is the potential client), qualifications of the said candidate, and in some cases a discussion on the benefits of having such a person/rafter in one’s hospital or clinic. The letter will clearly explain the qualifications and specialties of the surgeon and mention his years of practice in providing first class care for all types of patients, especially those who are in need of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or cardio-respiratory resuscitation and orthopedic surgery.
The second section of the sample letter for a surgeon has some talking points that ensure patient safety. For instance in the second paragraph, we can mention some reminders to surgeons not to operate on an unconscious patient. Remember that while operating on an unconscious patient might seem easier, it may not necessarily be the best option for their well being as they might not be able to respond to the surgery as well as they could have before the operation. Similarly, during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, do not operate on an unconscious patient. This might seem like common sense, but I am sure that you would have forgotten this after being operated on by a particularly skilled heart surgeon who knows how to operate perfectly on a particular situation.
Lastly, the third and final part of the sample letter for a surgeon clearly defines the area of surgery, the purpose for the surgery, the risks of the surgery and the benefits of surgery in this case. The benefits of surgery should be mentioned in terms of an overall benefit to the patient and not just talk about specific cosmetic benefits. Ideally, the benefits of surgery should include everything that makes surgery worthwhile, be it cost effectiveness, convenience, safety, painlessness, or any other number of things. There is no point in having a surgery if it is only going to be a waste of time and money. The benefits should also include things like an increase in your quality of life and vitality and being able to maintain a healthy and active way of living.
After describing the general characteristics of a surgery, there should be a short explanation about the specific situation of the patient and the surgical procedure. It should go into more detail about the patient’s current health status and any known previous medical conditions. In some cases, there may be an indication of additional risk factors and this should also be mentioned briefly. The final section should include three bullet points stating the minimum qualifications required to perform the surgery, and a link to the legislative reference guide for the state chapter. Following these three basic sections, the sample will be ready for review and approval by the state chapter.