Page 3 | To think that surgeons, while obviously skilled, often have a certain arrogance that makes them difficult to work with?

WildHazelCritic · 2025-08-03T20:27:26+00:00

I completely respect the level of skill, training, and responsibility that comes with being a surgeon but I’ve noticed that many seem to have a certain… arrogance? Of course, confidence is necessary in that field but at what point does it tip over into being dismissive or difficult to work with? I’ve heard stories (and witnessed myself) of surgeons being rude to colleagues, unwilling to take input, or acting like they’re above everyone else. Is this just part of the culture or do some surgeons lean into the “god complex” stereotype a little too much? AIBU to think their attitude could sometimes use a reality check? Or is this just a misunderstanding of what the job requires?

unsurewhattodoaboutit · 04/08/2025 02:51

Arrogance is not necessarily a good trait if you are a surgeon! If you want to read or listen to a case where surgeons arrogance did not lead to a good patient outcome. Elaine Bromily.

Magicwand80 · 04/08/2025 02:42

Newmummy343 · 04/08/2025 02:23

Honestly who cares, my son has had life saving surgery twice, once at 7 weeks and another at 14 months. My son is now nearly 4 and wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the surgeons. I met his brain surgeon a few weeks ago for a follow up appointment. He was wonderful with my son and I couldn't put into words how thankful I am for everything he done. If he is arrogant which I obviously haven't witnessed then he deserves to be

The people who have worked with surgeons...

2021x · 04/08/2025 02:38

Having worked in healthcare, there are assertive surgeons and then there are arseholes.

Its the arseholes that make the big mistakes because they couldn't take the feedback when the mistakes were small. The sterotype of the amazing surgeon that it warrants their arsehole nature is very rare and I would argue that they do more harm than good (looking at you Dr. House). Also the type of surgery breeds and selects within a culture... ortho are usually frat boys, spinal surgeons- incredibly detail orientated, general surgeons- usually pretty normal etc..

I would say that surgeons are generally more "task orientated" and less "people orientated" then some other physicians, but they have such low patient contact compared to other doctors that sometimes it doesn't matter.

Newmummy343 · 04/08/2025 02:23

Honestly who cares, my son has had life saving surgery twice, once at 7 weeks and another at 14 months. My son is now nearly 4 and wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the surgeons. I met his brain surgeon a few weeks ago for a follow up appointment. He was wonderful with my son and I couldn't put into words how thankful I am for everything he done. If he is arrogant which I obviously haven't witnessed then he deserves to be

Studyunder · 04/08/2025 02:09

The orthopaedic surgeons where I work are horrific. There’s a clear bias against a particular surgery for female patients. Due to geographical factors there’s even more difficulty to recruit and retain staff. This means no-one ever challenges them. They’re sitting pretty for life 😢

Springtime98 · 04/08/2025 02:06

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/08/2025 01:59

Oh me too!!

"Whats in the back of the van?"

"1000 strawberry lollies and the Princess of Lichtenstein"

😅

Show quote history

😅😅

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/08/2025 01:59

Springtime98 · 04/08/2025 01:57

😅 I loved cabin pressure, I have it all on audible and must have listened to it about 15 times!

Show quote history

Oh me too!!

"Whats in the back of the van?"

"1000 strawberry lollies and the Princess of Lichtenstein"

😅

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/08/2025 01:57

Onthemaintrunkline · 04/08/2025 01:55

I had a very interesting conversation with one surgeon, his words… “most of us thrive and look for patient adulation, I’m the same it becomes addictive “.

And if you think about it, most patients are very grateful, these skilled medicos are responsible for very often saving lives and alleviating pain.

I guess its the same as actors who just want the applause.

Springtime98 · 04/08/2025 01:57

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/08/2025 01:55

I didnt know that about pilots althought it makes perfect sense. I know a guy who is a pilot and he is honestly the biggest prick it has ever been my misfortune to meet.

Benedict Cumberbatch was in a radio comedy called Cabin Pressue (absolutely brilliant, I highly recommend it) and one of the characters described a pilot as "a smooth talking old smarm pot who think's he is the best thing to happen to the sky since rainbows" and that describes the man I know very well!

Show quote history

😅 I loved cabin pressure, I have it all on audible and must have listened to it about 15 times!

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/08/2025 01:55

Saladbar · 04/08/2025 01:39

They are known to have this reputation, as are pilots.

I didnt know that about pilots althought it makes perfect sense. I know a guy who is a pilot and he is honestly the biggest prick it has ever been my misfortune to meet.

Benedict Cumberbatch was in a radio comedy called Cabin Pressue (absolutely brilliant, I highly recommend it) and one of the characters described a pilot as "a smooth talking old smarm pot who think's he is the best thing to happen to the sky since rainbows" and that describes the man I know very well!

Onthemaintrunkline · 04/08/2025 01:55

I had a very interesting conversation with one surgeon, his words… “most of us thrive and look for patient adulation, I’m the same it becomes addictive “.

And if you think about it, most patients are very grateful, these skilled medicos are responsible for very often saving lives and alleviating pain.

Springtime98 · 04/08/2025 01:54

unsurewhattodoaboutit · 03/08/2025 21:42

Remember surgeon is one of the occupational groups with the highest concentration of psychopaths.

Is that true? That's a bit terrifying! 😯

SadTimesInFife · 04/08/2025 01:43

AnnaMagnani · 03/08/2025 21:36

I think you have to be a certain sort of person to cut into someone's brain.

That isn't necessarily the same sort of person who is going to be great at communication.

We once saw DH's eye surgeon have an absolute rage when a theatre wasn't available for his surgery. While we were glad we didn't have to work with him, we were also incredibly grateful he was DH's surgeon as it was an emergency and apparently he had been on the rampage all day making sure DH got a slot.

Justifiable rage.

You have to have the ability to think " no one would have got a better outcome", if something goes wrong. For that to be real/valid you need knowledge and experience. If it comes with arrogance and not.humility then the surgeon wont learn and improve and be more able to anticipate possible outcomes next time.

Surgery is like carpentry but you don't get to walk away when it doesnt go to plan.Itbis stressful, having that responsibility. It is theatre, and the surgeon is the principle actor and everyone else supports them. Not acknowledging the support team is extremely poor form.

The attitude of support staff to surgeons can be fawning. General public think that if there’s a scar, then a. It was worth the price and b. The problem will be 100% fixed. Surgery is just another tool.in the fight against disease.

Equine (male) surgeons have historically been known to throw instruments. Tantrums should always be punished, with no exception.

"Do no harm" by Henry Marsh is enlightening.

Saladbar · 04/08/2025 01:39

They are known to have this reputation, as are pilots.

Kirbert2 · 04/08/2025 01:34

sellotapechicken · 04/08/2025 00:44

As a surgeon I’m biased but I would say you have to have a certain type of personality to do our job and to venture into unknown territory.

However. I like all the team I work with and I respect my colleagues I treat everyone I work with, with respect and will always speak up for my colleagues.

Having said that; I have shouted (once and only once) before. It was a really really tricky bit where I had to attach a bit of bowel to another piece after removing a section with a tumour in situ but the patient’s anatomy was very different and the tissue was extremely fragile for some reason, so I had to use lots of different types of sutures and it was really hairy for a short period where I really couldn’t stop the stitches from tearing through the tissue paper thin bowel. It was extremely stressful and I asked for the music to be turned off because I really needed to focus (I usually work with a nice playlist on Spotify). Music was turned off and I decided to give it one more go before giving the patient a stoma that would not have ever been reversible because of the anatomy, so this was life changing surgery.

I was very stressed and all I could hear was 2 people talking so loudly about how irritating and unfair it was the music was turned off. So yes, I did say very loudly ‘please can everyone be quiet I need to concentrate and because I never ever tell people to be quiet, it went instantly silent and afterwards I apologised for speaking loudly and turning the music off because if you’re not operating and can see the wound it really is quite boring without music.

some of my colleagues are genuinely awful to operate with because of the way they talk to the theatre staff, but they’re not liked and no one loves staying late for them, whereas I know I am respected and liked. All of the theatre staff are essential and I couldn’t do my job without them, so I treat them as I’d like to be treated and it probably doesn’t hurt that I chuck a couple hundred quid behind the bar at the Christmas do 😜.

Also I am female. I have no issue telling my colleagues to wind their neck in (surgeons) just because I’m a consultant gastro surgeon doesn’t mean for 2 seconds I can act like an overgrown toddler

You sound very similar to the gastro surgeon my son had. He had lymphoma in his bowel and needed several complicated surgeries and did have a stoma but it was able to be reversed after he finished cancer treatment.

She was amazing. Very knowledgeable, always kept me informed and gave me and my son the biggest hugs when she told us she was happy for him to be discharged after a very long 10 months. I'll never, ever forget her.

Swirlythingy2025 · 04/08/2025 01:20

its like the ep of person of interest In a flashback scene of "Person of Interest", when Sameen Shaw is first introduced, she is working as a doctor, her character is established through her actions and dialogue which highlight her pragmatic and somewhat detached nature.

She is shown performing a complex surgery with a calm demeanor, even when faced with a tense situation involving a patient's family.

Her focus is solely on the medical procedure, demonstrating her dedication to her work and her ability to remain objective under pressure.

but the head manager doctor tells shaw that because she didnt have empathy she should not be a surgeon. but as she said which is better haveing self doubt or lacking empathy ?

Electricrhubarb · 04/08/2025 01:10

Also sounds like an accurate description of some of the GP's I've seen in the last few years.

RabbitFurCoat · 04/08/2025 00:59

sellotapechicken · 04/08/2025 00:58

I can say as it’s vague. No stoma needed, more chemo as planned and still cancer free 😊

Show quote history

Whoop!!!

youalright · 04/08/2025 00:59

Iv had multiple surgeons some are amazing some are arrogant arseholes who if you dare to question them you know about it.

sellotapechicken · 04/08/2025 00:58

RabbitFurCoat · 04/08/2025 00:51

I've often thought I'd like to be around to observe people in hospital. I'd say fly on the wall but that feels unhygienic! I get all curious when I'm a patient and want to know all I can about the way it all works, the machinations. I've often thought that time is different in hospitals though, you can feel so isolated from the outside world. Is it the same for the people working there, or is this just a patient specific perspective?

Thanks for this little insight into your world. I hope your thin organed patient's outcome was good, not that you can say.

Show quote history

I can say as it’s vague. No stoma needed, more chemo as planned and still cancer free 😊

Wildflowerswildhorses · 04/08/2025 00:56

While that may be true of many surgeons, they aren't all like that. The orthopedic surgeon I had last year for my fractured arm was a lovely man. He was kind and caring to both patients and staff.

SemperIdem · 04/08/2025 00:55

MrsSunshine2b · 04/08/2025 00:20

Psychopaths and narcissists can make good surgeons. You have to be able to look at a living breathing human as just a machine to be mended, and also cope with the inevitability of sometimes getting it wrong and the patient dying at your hands. As such, it's going to attract a particular type of person who may not be big on empathy and people skills.

It’s absolutely this.

To be a surgeon at all requires a degree of self belief that most don’t possess.

I don’t think surgeons are arrogant. I don’t necessarily think the traits that make it possible for people to be surgeons align well with being a “people person” but they’re not arrogant. They have a huge amount of self belief, which after making a career out of cutting into people and fixing problems, is entirely warranted.