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

[WildHazelCritic]

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?

Yep. Some are utter arseholes. Spinal and neurosurgeons in my experience.

Our gastroenterologists are also pretty awful. Most of our consultants are fortunately lovely. Particularly the plastic surgeons.

I think the ability to cut into and operate on a living person requires a certain level of arrogance.

My mum was a surgeon

she was an abusive alcoholic and has been described as ‘classic narc’

i should’ve been taken away by social services

That's their reputation - egotistical, no bedside manner, etc.

I mean yes, they are (mostly) a bunch of egotistical control freaks BUT imagine believing that you can make someones life better by cutting in to them and making changes, you must need an ego the size of the planet to even break someone's skin. Also the opportunity to kill someone by mistake is huge so they need to be arsey control freaks to keep everything smooth and as safe as possible.

That said they can be some of the biggest dickheads to work with. You couldn't pay me to date/marry one.

Just like in every profession, there are good ones and more difficult ones.

There was a saying in the hospital I used to work at;
”What’s the difference between a surgeon and God? God doesn’t think he’s a surgeon”

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.

It's well known many surgeons have a god complex.

I read somewhere most surgeons are psychopaths . It’s the risk element they’re drawn to .

Yes. I imagine that it would be difficult.

No… surgical culture is changing.
There are increasing numbers women in surgery … there is strong evidence that they are better.. less complications, decreased mortality… if you have a choice use a woman every time.
I have just had eye surgery with a fantastic woman ophthalmologist.
Where I work ( medic) the surgeons are lambs and the paediatricians have a reputation of being utter pricks !

I've met women surgeons who are just as scary as the men.

I have only ever known one brain surgeon. He was utterly wonderful, had an exceptionally good bedside manner.

Having been an anaesthetist for over 30 years I have worked with a lot of surgeons and in my experience, they're just people. Some of them are arseholes, some of them are lovely. Some are arrogant, some very humble.Despite the stereotypes I'd say I've met as wide a range of personalities amongst surgeons as any other specialty, and probably any other profession. In fact the two most obnoxious colleagues I ever had were both cardiologists and not surgeons at all, but I don't judge the entire specialty on that basis.

I trained as an ODP, and yes a lot of surgeons were as you describe. I found anaesthetists a lot more pleasant to work with.

I personally believe most of the male surgeons are autistic. With how skilled they are yet still struggle with communication and lack of empathy... it really makes sense to me. I could be well wrong. That's just what I believe.

Worked in nhs for many years and would say in my experience medical consultants are far more needy and precious than surgeons!

at what point does it tip over into being dismissive or difficult to work with?

Somewhere between the second and third year of surgical training, I believe.

They need to cut themselves off, emotionally, from what they have trained to do.
How would you rate pilots, who also have hundreds of people's lives in their hands every day?

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

Some of my surgeon colleagues are absolute wankers tbh. Truly arrogant, unpleasant people who get off on making others small, just really unpleasant people to work with

Many have been lovely though. And are often forgotten about among the massive egos.

I've found it hard as a lot of the arrogant, egotistical consultant have absolutely no concept of their juniors ability, and often favour similar personalities. Basically you just have to tell them your good and they believe it, and I've seen juniors who are completely incompetent get favoured because they were also arrogant. So unless you display similar traits you lose out on experience and respect from your seniors. It can be really challenging to change that culture, egos breed egos. (But hopefully it is changing)

I’m a physio - most of the spinal surgeons that I work with are absolutely lovely! DD had the misfortune of needing scoliosis surgery when she was 16 and we honestly couldn’t have asked for two nicer, more down to earth consultants who made her feel so comfortable in an otherwise scary time. Of course there’s exceptions but these tend to be the older surgeons - I find the younger consultants easier to talk to and a bit more humble.

The fact is though that in order to operate on somebody’s brain/spine you need to have an air of self confidence that most people do not possess. This often translates as ignorance

Just like any other profession, good ones and bad ones.

I've dealt with many surgeons unfortunately as my son last year had many surgeries. At the first hospital, before he was transferred to a different hospital, a surgeon declared him to not be a surgical case and continued to insist that he had gastroenteritis despite nurses putting down a NG tube and clearly getting fecal matter out of it as well as poo smelling vomit. He refused to listen and by the time he did listen, septic shock set in and my son had a cardiac arrest.

Fortunately, he survived and he was then transferred to the hospital he would spent 10 months at. There because he was such a complex case, I met gastro surgeons, plastic surgeons, cardiac surgeons etc and I had a good experience with all of them. The cardiac surgeon definitely had a 'god complex' and he gave me an unsolicited opinion about a plastic surgery matter (which turned out to be wrong) but he later came to me and apologised just saying that he was worried about my sons heart and considering he was on ecmo support at the time, I understood his concern.

Overall, I have an incredibly high opinion of surgeons. My son wouldn't be here today without them. He was given such a low chance of surviving and they gave it their all. I'm incredibly grateful for the fantastic work they did.