RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - June 25 - Flipbook - Page 55
Still Keen?
If you’re thinking about hopping on
a plane for your next procedure,
here are a few 琀椀ps to help ensure a
posi琀椀ve experience:
• Do Your Homework
• Consult Your Home Doctor
• Plan for Recovery
• Check Insurance and Legal Details
• Mind the Travel Basics
It’s not a decision to take lightly.
There are real risks. If you’re a curious
traveller considering medical tourism,
approach it like any major life
decision – informed and eyes-open!
risk of deep vein thrombosis
(blood clots), especially if
you’re immobile. You may need
to stay abroad longer than a
typical tourist – un琀椀l you’re 昀椀t
to 昀氀y – and take precau琀椀ons
like wearing compression
socks or walking during the
昀氀ight. There’s also the general
strain of travel: unfamiliar
food, climate, or jet lag can
complicate recovery.
Follow-up care is another
challenge. Once you’re back
home, who will check on that
healing incision? Post-treatment
complica琀椀ons that arise a昀琀er
returning can be tricky to
handle remotely, due to lack
of coordina琀椀on between your
foreign surgeon and your local
GP. You might have to travel
back if something goes wrong
or 昀椀nd a home doctor willing
to take over your care. This
con琀椀nuity gap is something to
plan for in advance.
Pa琀椀ents should also be aware
of legal and ethical issues.
Malprac琀椀ce laws are not
global – if a surgery abroad
goes awry, suing the doctor
or clinic (across interna琀椀onal
borders and jurisdic琀椀ons) is
o昀琀en imprac琀椀cal. Essen琀椀ally,
you may have li琀琀le legal
recourse for medical negligence
outside your home country.
Addi琀椀onally, some procedures
o昀昀ered abroad might be ones
not approved at home, which
raises moral ques琀椀ons and
poten琀椀al safety risks. Always
ensure you’re comfortable with
the procedure and that it’s legal
and ethically sound.
Finally, consider travel
advisories and personal safety.
While many medical tourists
have perfectly safe trips, there
have been tragedies. Choosing
reputable hospitals in safe areas,
and following common-sense
travel precau琀椀ons, is cri琀椀cal.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal or travel advice. Readers are
advised to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical treatment or procedures, particularly those undertaken
overseas. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any
loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person using this information. Travel regulations, health standards, and medical outcomes may vary significantly by
country and provider. Always undertake independent research and seek professional guidance before engaging in medical tourism.
