Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

cnn.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 86 posts

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#11

Post by rdiddly »

dotancohen wrote: post #3
orliesaurus wrote: post #2

Luckily no one was harmed.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

Apparently there are enough surgeons that this guy has plenty of time for extracurricular activities inside an open incision.

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#12

Post by pgsandstrom »

dotancohen wrote: post #3
orliesaurus wrote: post #2

Luckily no one was harmed.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

His "stupid decision" shows a complete lack of judgement. I would never trust anyone with my life if they are capable of doing something as absurd as this.

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#13

Post by ramblerman »

dotancohen wrote: post #3
orliesaurus wrote: post #2

Luckily no one was harmed.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

Except this isn't how we make decisions in our society. What if he hits a kid with his car, should we let him off the hook there too because 'he is needed by society'

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#14

Post by drops »

ramblerman wrote: post #13
dotancohen wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

Except this isn't how we make decisions in our society. What if he hits a kid with his car, should we let him off the hook there too because 'he is needed by society'

You're comparing a victimless "crime" with injuring someone. That doesn't make any sense.

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#15

Post by [deleted] »

pgsandstrom wrote: post #12
dotancohen wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

His "stupid decision" shows a complete lack of judgement. I would never trust anyone with my life if they are capable of doing something as absurd as this.

[deleted]

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#16

Post by JSONwebtoken »

Honestly if he had asked for my consent, I might have thought about letting him brand my organ, it's not like anyone will see it or care. It might mean he takes more pride in his work and thus do a better job.

I understand a professional wanting to "sign off" on their work; programmers, scientists, artists, engineers and so forth really like putting their name on things so why not doctors?

If he were forthcoming maybe only 10% of patients might agree to it, but that should probably be enough to scratch some egotistic itch.

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#17

Post by Siemer »

pgsandstrom wrote: post #12
dotancohen wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

His "stupid decision" shows a complete lack of judgement. I would never trust anyone with my life if they are capable of doing something as absurd as this.

I would, especially if I was on a waiting list. A punishment that does not remove him from his job would benefit everyone in this case.

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#18

Post by ramblerman »

drops wrote: post #14
ramblerman wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except this isn't how we make decisions in our society. What if he hits a kid with his car, should we let him off the hook there too because 'he is needed by society'

You're comparing a victimless "crime" with injuring someone. That doesn't make any sense.

If it's important to the analogy then lets say we caught him driving super drunk but he hadn't hurt anyone yet. Should we let him off the hook?

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#19

Post by lokimedes »

dotancohen wrote: post #3
orliesaurus wrote: post #2

Luckily no one was harmed.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

The guy should lose his authorization for this.

It is part of a bad culture among medical doctors, where they both torture themselves and apparently others as well. The profession as a whole should really wake up or they will face a similar reaction as taxi drivers did with the introduction of Uber and Lyft. Nobody want’s to be forced to be a customer in businesses that supersede customer trust for ego.

Re: Surgeon admits to branding initials on patients' livers

#20

Post by askvictor »

pgsandstrom wrote: post #12
dotancohen wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was no danger of harm. In fact, though this was a stupid decision by the surgeon, I'm of the opinion that he should not be removed from his post. He was proud of his handiwork and signed off on it. Have we enough skilled surgeons to remove them for a harmless boast? Reprimanded, sure, but removing him from his post is both an over reaction and unfair to society which is already lacking in skilled healthcare pro…

His "stupid decision" shows a complete lack of judgement. I would never trust anyone with my life if they are capable of doing something as absurd as this.

People who are specialists in one thing might make terrible judgements in other things. Your excellent judgement in designing software doesn't make you an excellent driver.
Post reply on HN