On occasion, this may require retraining in a particularly complicated procedure. For example, some surgeons in the nineties and noughties were very slow to accept that minimal invasive techniques had not only arrived but were here to stay.
Indeed, I hear rumour that, even today, there are still a minority of senior surgeons in the UK who are performing open cholecystectomy as a routine.
That is bad practice for, if they have not learned minimal invasive techniques, now standard for cholecystectomy, or have found that they do not have the necessary skills required to practise them; then, they should refer the patient to a colleague who has.
I was brought up on the motto big surgeon—big cut! Looking back, how incredibly archaic that now sounds! But of course, open operations are often still required and then adequate access to safely perform the procedure is always an essential. A large incision may sometimes be necessary. Communication skills are vitally important. The ability to communicate with patients and their relatives in a quietly confident way, at all times being honest and understandable is part of the hallmark of a master surgeon.
Arrogance or seeming superiority should be abhorred. A good technician with a poor bedside manner does not equate to true excellence.
Communication and team working are necessary components of good leadership , a quality which is also part of the persona of the master surgeon, who is also likely to be a good teacher —avoiding humiliation of a student or trainee in front of others—something which still occurs all too frequently and of course does not engender good learning.
The ability to critically appraise and analyse scientific literature is necessary and this ability is furthered by having had firsthand experience of research, although I do not believe outstanding excellence in personal research is an essential component of surgical excellence.
So these are some of the qualities that I believe are required to answer the question posed. I end with the Golden Rule , something that is innate in the best surgeons—do unto others as you would have done unto yourself. By following this rule at all times, in the outpatient clinic, in the operating room and during postoperative care, all doctors, whatever their specialty, will be on the path to excellence—it is a rule that I always strived to practise during my own career. But was I an excellent surgeon rather than merely competent?
That I honestly do not know—it is always for others to judge, not the surgeon themselves. And there is no one here you can ask; I confess to being mightily relieved! He was an elected member of the General Medical Council and civilian consultant surgeon to the Army.
He has been awarded numerous professional honors including a knighthood for services to training and education in surgery. He is currently a Trustee of several health-related charities and is actively involved in the library and museum services of the Royal College of Surgeons. He has a longstanding interest in the history of medicine. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar. Correspondence to Barry Jackson. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
He was also the Serjeant Surgeon to the Queen from — Reprints and Permissions. Jackson, B. What Makes an Excellent Surgeon?. Download citation. Published : 11 March Issue Date : 15 April Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:.
That decision should be the right one. Surgery should be a great experience because it will start you on the road to recovery. It will mean the alleviation of pain, discomfort, or inability to perform something you probably did routinely. Surgeons do not suggest surgery routinely; they do it as a matter of last resort when all conservative care has failed to work.
They do it because they want it to work; they want to help. You as their patient are the beneficiary of their clinical wisdom and experience. So when considering a decision about your surgery here are a few things to keep in mind to help you understand what will make your experience the one you desire.
Vladimir Horowitz the great concert violinist once said that the only reason he is as good as he is, is because he practices daily or performs daily. If he skips one day, he notices it. If he skips two days, his wife notices it. Pay based on use. Does my organisation subscribe? Group Subscription.
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