Prejudiced,poignant,pathetic, or publishable?

Editor -If I hear the same old prejudiced claptrap about the differences between surgeons and physicians recited one more time, I think I will vomit.¹

The statement that "sympathetic surgeon" is an oxymoron is deeply offensive to every surgeon who places their patients' needs at the heart of their practice. Surgeons spend as much time counselling their patients through difficult decisions and emotionally straining times as any doctor, and only a few surgeons continue to play out the macho culture stereotype depicted by the author.

The author's assertion that the world of medicine is far more emotionally and intellectually stimulating than surgery plays on the sawbones divisions of old and has no relevance in the modern world of research driven surgical practice.

The article was obviously intended to stimulate debate, but I fear this will be hampered because many surgeons will just treat it with the contempt it deserves.

1. Help!I'm a medic, get me out of here. studentBMJ 2004;12:63.(February.)

Editor -After reading the anonymously written "Help! I'm a medic, get me out of here" we both looked at each other in total disbelief.¹ Never has an article in the studentBMJ irritated us more.

The house officer concerned clearly had a difficult experience during his or her house job, but to make generalisations about surgeons in general based on one six month period in one hospital is nothing short of ludicrous. As surgical trainees who pride ourselves on our communication skills and relationships with both patients and colleagues, we found this article deeply offensive.

One gets out of life only what one puts in, and personality clashes occur everywhere. We hope the author reads this and the many other responses and reflects on the opinions expressed, and then perhaps he or she will start to enjoy medicine again.

Ben J Challacombe specialistregistrar in urology Guy's Hospital, London
Email: benchallacombe@hotmail.com

Sarah E Wheastone
specialist registrar in general surgery
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich


studentBMJ 2004;12:133-176 April ISSN 0966-6494

1. Help!I'm a medic, get me out of here. studentBMJ 2004;12:63.(February.)