He is a junior doctor. When he began working for the hospital, he didn’t seem good at suturing yet. Everyone knows suturing is one of the most fundamental skills you must master before working as a surgeon. You may say he was not bad but his technique was different from the hospital’s standard. I thought the problem was both the method and the skill. I wondered what he had learned during residency.
He said “oh, no” when he got lost during procedures, even though the patients were under local anesthesia. I heard it a few times. How can I trust him? How can patients trust the senior doctor who allows him to perform the procedure?
I remember that when I was a junior doctor, my supervising doctor told me never to say “oh, no” in front of patients because it caused severe patient anxiety. Medical education needs teaching not only surgical techniques but also professional conduct. I was lucky enough to have a mentor who taught me both though I only focused on mastering the skills. Now as a supervising doctor I must teach the junior doctor who lacks even the most fundamental skills.
There are three key words. What is the difference between surgical technique, skill, and method? He might know the technique, but he still lacks the skill to do it safely. He needs to learn the method of proper wound management and patient safety.
WILLPOWER MELTDOWN SOMETIMES 