Surgery in Georgia: Definition of Surgery
Surgery is a specialized form of dentistry that focuses on the structure and function of the mouth and jawbones, focusing mainly on repairing or eliminating dental defects that affect the structures of the teeth. Surgery can be either general (for instance, in removing a wisdom tooth) or local (for instance, in fixing a cleft palate). Surgery as an oral treatment is more common than in any other category, with almost 50 percent of all surgeries performed by general surgeons. Surgery includes everything from reconstructive surgery to pediatric surgery.
The definition of surgery can be confusing, even though most dictionaries and encyclopedias provide the necessary definition. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, provides the best definition: Surgery is a general term for various procedures that involve the removal of tissue, organ, joint or bone from one place to another. It is the insertion of surgical instruments into a fixed structure, the intention of which is to provide an artificial function. Surgery can be a primary (for example, in the case of a surgical procedure performed to remove or repair a cleft palate), secondary (in the case of an adult mastectomy to correct an aesthetic problem), or tertiary (for example, in the case of a prophylactic procedure to reduce the risk of cancer in children). Wikipedia further expands the definition of surgery by providing additional subcategories: Anesthetic surgery, aesthetic surgery, reconstructive surgery, pediatric surgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery, pathology, radiology, surgico-anatomical surgery, gastroenterology, thoracic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedics, pediatric surgery, trauma, traumatology, and rehabilitation.
According to the American Dental Association’s (ADA’s), a definition of surgery must include at least three requirements: individual tissue is selected for the purpose, sufficient anesthesia is provided, and post-operational complication is reduced as much as possible. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons additionally states that the patient safety must be paramount and all potential risks have been evaluated and ruled out. According to the organization, a patient safety assessment should first be done to evaluate current practices and return them to where they were before the surgery. Next, these assessments should be conducted again after the patient has recovered, and again with a focus on current practices. Lastly, if changes are needed, they should be implemented, taking into account any adverse effects on the patient and/or his or her recovery.
In Canada, there is only one statutory law on surgery. This is the Part VI of the Canadian Criminal Code. The regulation does not specify the word surgery, and there is no distinction between hospital and outpatient surgeries. Rather, the provision requires that surgery be undertaken by a licensed medical practitioner in a hospital that has been granted authority to perform the procedure by the province’s provincial dental association. According to the provision, if the physician is not a licensed medical practitioner, then the procedures will not be deemed as medical and the accused will not be entitled to compensation under the act. As there are no differences between hospital and outpatient surgeries, both can be charged under the Part VI regulation.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the only organization that defines surgery in state law. They use a case-by-case basis to determine if the procedure is performed appropriately and safely. This is because they receive hundreds of requests for their services and thousands of plastic surgeries are performed each year. There are three basic definitions that they use; they are preoperative; postoperative and emergency. Each service has its own set of talking points, with the patient’s family and physician providing them with information on what they mean.
In addition to the organizations that define surgery, the state chapter also has information on its website regarding what it means to be operated on. It also explains that surgery is not a substitute for a diagnosis or a prognosis. Because of this, the website cautions patients from using the information provided on it to define or negatively affect their care after the fact. They should be sure to consult with their physician and their representative before making any decisions or taking any actions about their health.