A Boca Raton, Fla. cheerleader has died from anesthesia complications during breast surgery at her doctor’s office. With an increasing number of doctors performing surgery in their offices instead of hospitals, researchers have found a higher risk of death and complications in offices compared with other facilities – and cosmetic procedures cause the most problems, according to a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Many of these physicians are switching to office surgeries to avoid complying with hospital surgical suite regulations that require doctors to meet minimum credentialing for performing surgery. For instance, many doctors who perform tummy tucks, liposuction and other cosmetic surgical procedures are not board certified plastic surgeons; a requirement for performing such procedures in a hospital.

If you (or someone you know) are thinking of having a surgical procedure performed in a doctor’s office, make sure you verify the physician’s credentials, know how the anesthesia will be administered and make certain an action plan exists in the event that something goes wrong.

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