A SHORT while ago, I was asked to speak at the funeral service of a close friend, a general surgeon. In preparing my remarks, I began to think about the characteristics of an ideal general surgeon, and I identified 10 desirable traits.
A WARM PERSONALITY
The surgeon should be interested in other people. Patients respond best to surgeons who treat them as human beings. The martinet who feels superior to everyone else invites trouble, both from patients and from colleagues.
INTELLIGENCE
The surgeon must be well informed about the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of surgical disease. Understanding the scientific basis for an operation separates the surgeon from the skilled technician.
AN ETHICAL APPROACH
The surgeon should understand that the patient's best interests take precedence. Serving the patient appropriately is more important than satisfying the insurance company, completing a research protocol, or assembling a large clinical series for publication.
HUMILITY
The surgeon should realize that a major operation . . . [Full Text of this Article]
REALISM
JUDGMENT
SELF-ANALYSIS
CURIOSITY
COURAGE
MANUAL DEXTERITY
