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?

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

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

Oh me too!!

"Whats in the back of the van?"

"1000 strawberry lollies and the Princess of Lichtenstein"

😅

😅😅

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 😢

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

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.

The people who have worked with surgeons...

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.

If you think surgeons are bad, you should meet a Navy pilot.
Oh - excuuuse me - a Naval aviator.

The female who did my endometriosis excision was incredible. I didn’t meet the bowel surgeon but he spent 3hrs with her, and she operated on me for a full day from 9.30am - 6pm
i kept everything apart from my appendix and she saved my bowel
brilliant before surgery at explaining everything and listening to me and so kind

The last one I came across ushered his colleagues in to admire my crocs whilst I was on the meat slab getting prepped to be cut open 🤣🤣🤣 He was lovely !

It was at Atkinson Morley

I worked at the JR in Oxford. One of the cardiac surgeons claimed to be, "the closest thing to God in Oxford".

Psychopaths apparently make good surgeons.

As a surgeon - this is delightful to read, thanks !
Yes , we fight hard for our patients when managers suggest that our patient’s major case should be cancelled
Yes there are times in theatre, when the music needs to go off, people need to stop chatting and I need to be able to concentrate to save someone’s life.
Yes there are times, that we throw a strop because we are being asked to cram extra patients into a clinic ( with no notes/ an IT system that isn’t working) because we still need to
make the right life changing decision for each person.

Yes , we take residents to task when their actions have lead to a poor outcome or put someone in danger .

But we also wake in the middle of the night , very frequently with patients’ details buzzing round our heads.

We miss special occasions with our families because a patient came first.

We phone relatives the minute we take our gloves off to put their mind at rest that their loved ones are out of danger.

We ensure that sloppiness is not tolerated within a surgical team ( those blood tests or that referral can’t just wait, that discharge surgery needs to be correct) .

If I was 18, I wouldn’t be a surgeon - more than 20 years of study and the stress is unbelievable. My husband jokes that a patient death is a nail in my coffin and that like a boxer we have only so many fights in us.

They certainly have a reputation amongst the medical doctors I work with 😄 though I remember a lovely Orthopaedic surgeon who, when I was watching a shoulder replacement as a student nurse, was so kind, explained what was happening and fetched a stool for me to stand on so I could see better! So they're not all bad 😄

Here to stick up for the surgeons who are getting a bit of a bashing! Yes I have only ever been on the patient side of the fence, but having lived (literally) in hospital for a year with my child whilst they underwent a total of 11 brain surgeries, I saw a LOT of surgeons and their interactions. The neurosurgeons were some of the kindest, gentlest, most empathetic and extraordinary people I have had the fortune of meeting. They showed me endless patience and kindness when I was losing my mind, real empathy to our horrific situation, and such sweetness towards my child. I absolutely deify them, but it’s hard not to when you’ve witnessed them save the life of your 2 week old to be honest! Though as someone previously said, as long as they’re respectful I wouldn’t care if they were arrogant!!! You have to have such self confidence to cut into and operate on the brain of a baby, thank GOD there are people out there who can. I certainly couldn’t.

I'm autistic, my daughters autistic, my son is autistic and so is my dad. So is my sister! My dad has very little empathy and isn't good at communicating. My son isn't great with empathy either. My daughter actually has too much empathy

Hardly a stereotype when I literally grew up and live with autistic people..... I also work with autistic people

I work with a team of about 20 surgeons. 2 are women and are lovely. 2 of the men are grade A arseholes and actually the most mediocre surgeons in the whole team ( although they think they are absolutely fantastic of course) The remainder are hard working, decent, good to patients and excellent technically.
I think the 2 tossers are the ones who are remembered ( thankfully not always) and create a bad rep for the others.

As a paediatric physio, I love reading this, thank you for sharing and I'm glad your son is doing well.

I have only met paediatric surgeons, mainly orthopaedics, and they were nearly all lovely. Confident yes, but kind and good communicators.

Its basically a medically induced coma.

If your in a coma in ITU the same drugs can be used to comatose you.
Also, to the person that said about anaesthetists being technicians, anaesthetists also run ITU. In my trust they all rotate through ITU if they wish. Having to monitor every body system, ensuring yhe patient is ventilated adequately and haemodynamically stable whilst dealing with emergencies.

Being an anaesthetist is far from any "technician". They are incredibly smart people who understand the body as a whole. Surgeons are also very intelligent, however some that I've come across are very smart in their own speciality. Anaesthetists have to understand each speciality.

As an ODP, I work with both daily

My mum was at the Royal London. Surname of surgeon starts with a B.

A relative is a paediatrician, though a physician. She chose to specialise in paediatrics as she felt they were the least arrogant, most down to earth people. I suppose arrogance does not go down well with kids!

I don't think you're who the OP is talking about. Plenty of positive comments on this thread, including my own experience with an epic female surgeon. Of course I'd expect someone to prioritise their job over people's feelings in a moment of intense focus.

I used to work part time in theatres and the rest of the time in the pre op unit with patients before their surgery, and it was so intriguing to see certain surgeons go from being all sweetness and light in pre op, to being the devil incarnate when operating in theatre. Seemed to be a stress/environment thing in some cases. Others were just arseholes 100% of the time, and the rest (though rare) were lovely regardless of where they were working. Always found that the ones that were lovely regardless were the ones that were the most confident and capable at their jobs and the ones that I’d want if I was a patient!