Attending physician

What is the attending physician's duties during surgery?

Can there be two attending physicians for a surgery?

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

It depends on the procedure. There is such a thing as co-surgeons when the expertise of surgeons of two specialties is required. I am a general surgeon and frequently work with spine surgeons. They can't get to the spine through the abdomen without my help. I can get through the abdomen but can't perform the fusion. Thus, we are co-surgeons and share the responsibility for the case.