What is a General Surgeon?

General surgeons focuses mainly on the digestive system and abdominal contents including the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland and breast. They also deal with injuries to these structures.

What Symptoms Does a
General Surgeon
Diagnose?

  • Abdominal pain
  • Hernia

What Treatment Disorders Does a General Surgeon Treat?

  • Abdominal injuries
  • Liver laceration
  • Ruptured spleen
  • Abdominal trauma
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Femoral hernia
  • Incisional hernia
  • Umbilical hernia

What Other MedicoLegal Assessments May Be Required?

  • Psychiatry
  • Gastroenterology
  • Occupational medicine
  • Urology
  • Plastic surgery
  • Pain medicine

Can a General Surgeon Be Contacted via TeleHealth?

Normally no, a general surgeon cannot be contacted via telehealth.

What Are Typical General Surgeon Expert Cases?

Genearal surgeon expert witnesses can be called upon in a variety of cases, the most common being medical malpractice and personal injury claims.

Here Are the Primary Roles of a General Surgery Expert Witness:

  • Medical Malpractice: These cases can involve allegations of surgical errors, improper treatment, delayed diagnosis, or failure to diagnose a condition that an orthopaedic surgeon should have identified. They might also involve questions about the standard of care provided, the informed consent process, or postoperative care.
  • Personal Injury Cases: These are cases where an individual has suffered musculoskeletal injuries due to accidents or other events. The orthopaedic expert witness can help determine the severity of the injury, the likely cause, the appropriateness of the treatment provided, and potential long-term impacts. Examples include car accidents, falls, and workplace injuries
  • Workers’ Compensation Cases: These cases involve injuries that occur in the workplace. The expert witness can assess the injury, review the treatment provided, and provide an opinion on the prognosis and the likely impact on the individual’s ability to work
  • Product Liability Cases: These can involve medical devices or equipment used in orthopaedic care, such as artificial joints, orthopaedic hardware (like plates, screws, or rods), or physical therapy equipment. The expert witness can testify about whether the device was used correctly or whether it had a design or manufacturing defect that led to injury.
  • Disability Claims: Orthopaedic surgeon expert witnesses can be asked to provide their expert opinion in cases where an individual is seeking disability benefits due to an orthopaedic condition. They might review the individual’s medical records and provide an opinion on their ability to work and the likely course of their condition

In all these cases, the role of the general surgeon expert witness is to provide objective, reliable information to the court based on their expertise and experience. Their opinions can play a critical role in helping the court understand the medical issues at hand and reach a fair decision.

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