Qualities of Surgeons

“Let the surgeon be bold in all sure things, and fearful in dangerous things; let him avoid all faulty treatments and practices. He ought to be gracious to the sick, considerate to his associates, cautious in his prognostications. Let him be modest, dignified, gentle, pitiful, and merciful; not covetous nor a extortionist of money; but rather let his reward be according to his work, to the means of the patient, to the quality of the issue, and to his own dignity.”

Guy De Chauliac, 1360

Here are some qualities that I admire in surgeons when they do their operations in the operating room (with the assumption that the outcome is good and there is adequate anesthesia):

• 1. Finesse

  2. Speed and without too many unnecessary moves

  3. Decisiveness

  4. Cost-effectiveness

Here are the some qualities that patients usually admire surgeons when the latter do procedures when they are awake (with the assumption that the outcome is good and there is adequate pain control):

• 1. Gentleness (magaan ang kamay)

  2. Speed (mabilis)

  3. Decisiveness

  4. Cost-effectiveness

"A good surgeon must have an eagle's eye, a lion's heart, and a lady's hand."

kalyani's interpretation:

Posted Date: 07/28/2010

"Just as an eagle has extremely sharp eyes and is able to spot its prey from hundreds of feet high up in the sky, so should a surgeon be able to notice even minutest defects or abnormal conditions in his patient's body while he is being operated upon. An eye for the detail is the prerequisite here. Even a tiniest of the irregularities cannot be missed by the surgeon.

A lion's heart indicates a calm, steady and courageous mind, not shaken by any serious condition that the surgeon sees in his patient.

A lady's hand indicates finesse. Finesse of hand while operating upon his patient. A lady's hand is supposed to be soft and gentle, while firm and steady and sure at the same time.

To make a successful surgeon, a surgeon on whom a patient entrusts himself with his life, these three are the most important qualities required."

http://www.exposeknowledge.com/forum/714-good-surgeon-has-eagles-eye-lions-heart.aspx

ROJ@18dec4