I didn't even know residents would be assisting with my surgery until I was in pre-op and there were about 4 residents (2 gynecologists and 2 anesthesiologists) surrounding my bed firing one question after another. I didn't even know it was a teaching hospital because it's not affiliated with any university. From what I've read, the attending physician doesn't even have to be present in the OR supervising the residents. To this day, it's not clear if residents did my surgery. I suspect the 4th year resident did all or most of it.

Forgot to mention - I never even saw my gynecologist (who was supposed to do my surgery) prior to being sedated.

@fighting4change - that's terrible! I think if a patient agrees on a specific surgeon it should always be that surgeon performing the surgery, not another one called in (unless it's an emergency) and definitely not a resident. A patient should always have informed consent.

At my pre-op appointment with my surgeon he made a big deal about how he'd be the only person touching me during surgery.

When he saw that I put it in writing that only he could operate and not residents he turned from sweet and nice to mean and aggressive. He tried to get me to take it out, and said that the hospital doesn't allow residents because they're not a teaching hospital. I get pissed off, though, when people try to bully me, so I didn't change it. If it wasn't a possibility then why did he even care if I put it in?

A couple of weeks after my surgery my mom brought me an article she cut out from the paper. Turned out not only did the hospital have a resident program, but that my surgeon was head of the program! So he totally lied.

Yes, your surgeon's change in demeanor and bullying were a big, red flag! Good for you for not backing down! Did you by any chance send him a copy of that article with a personal note attached? I only wish I'd listened to my intuition. I'm sure I would have if I hadn't trusted and respected this guy for 20 years!!

I would want to make sure my surgeon was there but I wouldn't mind if residents were also a part of it. There is so much complaint that there aren't enough endo surgeons....how do we as patients expect them to learn more about endo if they can't be part of actual surgeries??

I have no problem with residents, but I do want informed consent. If the surgeon I hired to do the surgery isn't the one who does it I find that extremely unethical. Residents need to learn, but delicate surgery, especially on a patient trying to preserve fertility, should be done by someone with experience. And a patient should never be misled about who is actually performing the surgery.

Sometimes residents perform unnecessary procedures too for a "learning experience." It's completely wrong, but it does happen. I think fighting4change went through such an experience with her surgery, and she's not the only woman this happened to.

I let residents practice pelvic exams on me, or take vitals and other exams. But if I hire a specific surgeon, he better damn well be the one doing the surgery.