Study: Doctors Are People, Too
It's of little comfort to the man whose doctor removed the wrong kidney, but a new study has found that surgeons agonize over complications, and the mistakes they make. According to Sam Wong at Imperial College in London, "Many surgeons are seriously affected on an emotional level when complications occur in the operating suite." Wong said that researchers at his institution interviewed 27 surgeons and found that down to a one, all were very concerned when complications occurred on their watch. The operating room is one of the highest risk areas for serious complications, with potentially profound consequences for patients and healthcare professionals, Wong notes. "But there has been little research into how surgeons respond to serious complications or how best to support staff following such events," he writes. We're all, or most of us, used to the brusque doctor who rushes into the examining room, looks you over (sometimes without even touching y...