Expert Witness Dr. Turkof

In addition to his work as a plastic surgeon, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Edvin Turkof is also active as a publicly sworn and court-certified expert witness (consultant) for plastic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery.

For Prof. Turkof, it is a personal concern to assist patients — especially in complex insurance matters — in obtaining the compensation they are rightfully entitled to. The goal is not so much to assign blame, but rather to clarify detailed questions that are crucial in determining whether the liability lies with the physician or the hospital’s insurance.

In addition, his work often involves questions of responsibility for unsatisfactory outcomes of aesthetic surgical procedures performed by practitioners from other specialties.

Here again, assigning blame is less important than answering key questions such as:

• Was the patient adequately informed about possible risks and complications?
• Did the physician act *lege artis* (according to accepted medical standards)?
• Was the performed procedure part of the physician’s approved surgical repertoire?
• Was the outcome the result of a true medical error (malpractice), or merely an unsatisfactory surgical result?
• Is the unsatisfactory outcome due to a possible complication, or can it be attributed to other causes?

Not infrequently, physicians are wrongly accused of malpractice, and in such cases it is essential to present the facts calmly and objectively. Conversely, patients must also be supported when their claims for compensation are justified.

It should also be noted that operations performed abroad pose particular challenges, as claims for damages are much harder to enforce and are often associated with significant costs.

The work as a court-certified expert witness is highly diverse and demanding — but it also carries tremendous responsibility.