Why do athletes when they get injured travel around the world to go to see a specific doctor, aren’t all doctors able to study specialists to learn the best techniques?

Question

Always hear of athletes based in UK or US for example travelling to Spain or other countries to get surgery.

In: Other

Answer 1

Another thing to consider is the overarching bodies that oversee the practice of medicine and techniques/medicines administered.

For example, Bupropion, is licensed as an antidepressant in the USA by the FDA but is not by the NHS (overarching MHRA I believe?) so if for example certain devices are involved too which comes under the same hat which aren’t FDA approved and that’s the hot new treatment, it won’t be happening in the US or UK.

In terms of the USA too, the costs for surgeries when you factor in anesthesia, endoscopic machinery, hospital monitoring without insurance, the lay athlete (excluding the upper tier earners) can’t really afford it. In terms of the UK, the system is not geared towards private practice so you are very limited in terms of physicians and locations.

I’m sure there are a multitude of other factors such as desiring specific techniques, niche injuries amongst other things but Olympic athletes often do earn peanuts and do have to weigh up the economic choices when considering surgery.