“You Have to be a Surgeon with Testicles”

The issue I want to present here is whether there is something special in the orientation and behavior of surgeons that separate them from all the other specialties in medicine or from folks in entirely different occupations. Does it have something to do with their ego, a greater attention to themselves and perhaps their manliness? Or is this simply a reflection of the surgeon’s self-confidence (??or lack of self-confidence??) Or is it, if present, a consequence of the immediate and personal responsibility to preserve their patient's life while the surgeon has hands inside the patient's body. Has anyone found that women surgeons display any similar egotistical behavior.

Read the excerpts below which were written by medical students in the
Medscape Medical Student Blog Let me know what you think about surgeons and whether this analysis of them is really fair and realistic. If so, is it a surprise? ..Maurice.

Nasstasjia, actually a year and a half out of medical school and awaiting a surgical residency, wrote her comment on Feb 1, 2007. While performing a hernia operation, the supervising surgeon told her "You have the skills but if you want to remain a woman in a man's world, you have to be a surgeon with testicles!!!! Or don't be a surgeon at all.!!!"

Bob wrote on Feb 2, 2007:
I work in cardiothoracic surgery w/ a surgeon who is excellent at his job. Having said that he can also be one of the most immature individuals I have ever met! I have never seen a grown man actually 'pout' when he doesn't get what he wants. On one hand you respect him then on the other you just want to yell "GROW UP!!"
There are alot of great surgeons out there but the best are the ones that treat everyone like a human being. One heck of a concept huh? If you are a doc reading this take notes.

imamedicalstudentgetmeoutofhere wrote on Feb 2, 2007:
One neurosurgeon who recently taught us actually introduced himself as god, and he wasn't taking the piss! I love surgery and hope one day that I’ll make it through the ranks myself. Will I develop an ego? Probably.