Is There Ever A Best Time For Surgery? ~by Legal Pub

Is there ever a best day for surgery? A recent University Medicine Berlin study suggests that some times may be better than others.  Specifically, the study supported the conclusion that patients are more likely to face complications following weekend or afternoon surgeries. Data from the study reported that the risk of post-surgical death on the weekend rose 22 percent.  Similarly, the study showed a 21 percent increase in deaths following afternoon surgery. Perhaps most surprising; however, is that those having surgery in the month of February had a 16 percent greater chance of death.

Researchers considered data from more than 200,000 patients from 2006 to 2011 in formulating their conclusions.  From the data one might conclude that it is preferable to perform elective surgery on weekends, afternoons, or around Valentines Day when doctors and nurses may be distracted by Cupid's arrows,
 
Does standard of care differ throughout the day and between weekdays and weekends?  One would hope not, but the statistics are alarming.  According to the Medical Daily "the first time, investigators have shown the same cyclic differences for post-surgical deaths."   While this suggests that more research may be needed, Legal Pub does not advocate volunteering for any unnecessary surgery regardless of the time of day or week!