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Surgery, or cutting other people open deliberately is instinctively difficult for people, even after they rationally evaluated that it 'needs to be done'. Bein

Surgery, or cutting other people open deliberately is instinctively difficult for people, even after they rationally evaluated that it 'needs to be done'. Being able to bring oneself do X is not the same as knowing X needs to be done. In that case, a quality like 'boldness' might help the surgeon execute successfully, rather than shrink away instinctively, if you define 'boldness' as being willing to make on-the-fly, risky, life-changing decisions when the need calls for it and then follow through. Most people are either not able to do this well, or deliberately choose not to work in an environment where it is called for. This same sort of calculus weighs in any profession that is in same way already inherently unpleasant, such as being a soldier, a fireman, or a spy.

projektfu 10y ago
I disagree. The hesitant feeling goes away in first year anatomy. Many doctors do not become surgeons because they prefer another field, don't have the scores, don't have the personality that gets recommendations from surgery preceptors, don't want the long residency with bad hours, or were simply unlucky and didn't match.
- edblarney 10y ago
  "The hesitant feeling goes away in first year anatomy. " Surely 'first year anatomy' is not the same thing as a bloody mess on the table, alarms going off, a frantic staff, and someone about to die in front of you unless you do something that happens to be fairly close to the right thing. I didn't study medicine, but I was in the Army, and I confess that a degree of slightly irrational hubris is necessary in some situations. Surely, we would all prefer our surgeons to be calm, team-oriented and thoughtful in front of us, but I think the situational dynamics just don't apply well to that. Also, people can be all of those things and 'bold'. Admittedly, 'bold' may not be the right word. If there is a word for someone who can be called upon to think clearly and 'do what is necessary' in a complex, high-stress scenario ... well than that.
  - projektfu 10y ago
    In the army, any combat staff with a rank of sergeant or better should have what it takes to be calm in that situation. That's why there are residencies. One of my mentors would chuckle during an intense situation and say "pit sweat!" Another would say "all bleeding stops eventually...". With students, the nurses are often keeping it cool until the student calms down. Many people can learn to stay calm.

projektfu 10y ago

I disagree. The hesitant feeling goes away in first year anatomy. Many doctors do not become surgeons because they prefer another field, don't have the scores, don't have the personality that gets recommendations from surgery preceptors, don't want the long residency with bad hours, or were simply unlucky and didn't match.

edblarney 10y ago
"The hesitant feeling goes away in first year anatomy. " Surely 'first year anatomy' is not the same thing as a bloody mess on the table, alarms going off, a frantic staff, and someone about to die in front of you unless you do something that happens to be fairly close to the right thing. I didn't study medicine, but I was in the Army, and I confess that a degree of slightly irrational hubris is necessary in some situations. Surely, we would all prefer our surgeons to be calm, team-oriented and thoughtful in front of us, but I think the situational dynamics just don't apply well to that. Also, people can be all of those things and 'bold'. Admittedly, 'bold' may not be the right word. If there is a word for someone who can be called upon to think clearly and 'do what is necessary' in a complex, high-stress scenario ... well than that.
- projektfu 10y ago
  In the army, any combat staff with a rank of sergeant or better should have what it takes to be calm in that situation. That's why there are residencies. One of my mentors would chuckle during an intense situation and say "pit sweat!" Another would say "all bleeding stops eventually...". With students, the nurses are often keeping it cool until the student calms down. Many people can learn to stay calm.