Wednesday, June 12, 2013

This one time, during brain surgery...

Today I had the opportunity to watch a neurosurgeon remove (debulk would be a more appropriate term) a really nasty & invasive brain tumor.  The following conversation occurred during the surgery:

Neurosurgeon (NS): What year are you?
Me: I'm a 4th year, sir.
NS: First, don't call me sir.  Second, what are you going into?
Me: Obstetrics
NS: Really, ob/gyn?  That's too bad.  When I first met you I had thought you very intelligent. 
silence

Then, post surgery:
Me: Thank you for letting me scrub in.
NS: Of course.  It was great having you in the case, and nice meeting you.  I still think you're making a stupid specialty choice though!

And so begins the ob/gyn bashing that I have heard so much about.

On another note - two interesting new stories today about reproductive health.  First a story on the Turn Away Study and the second was ACOG bringing attention to HR 1797, the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which is progressing in the house.  This bill would ban abortions after 20 weeks, leading to more "turn aways" and issues with access.  While it is specific to DC, it could set an ugly precedent. So glad that this is how congress is spending their time, and our tax payer money, instead of doing things like dealing with the ongoing sequestration.  Ugh!

1 comment:

Sunkist Miss said...

1) Seriously?! Don't listen to people who say that. It's awesome and so right for you that you're going into ob/gyn!

2) The House bill that you referenced appears to affect only DC, not *nationally*. That doesn't make it acceptable, but it is not quite what it appears from your explanation. That said, because it is "just" about DC, it is more likely to gain traction. After all, Congress feels that it can decide policy against the wishes of District residents without reproof or consequences.