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I would like to see the day when somebody would be appointed surgeon somewhere who had no hands, for the operative part is the least part of the work.
Harvey Cushing
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The essence of a surgeon's role extends beyond technical skills; it involves understanding, empathy, and decision-making.

Harvey Cushing's quote highlights that the role of a surgeon is not solely defined by their ability to perform surgery with their hands but rather encompasses a broader range of qualities, including critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the capacity to lead a medical team. This suggests that a physician's effectiveness is determined more by their overall approach to patient care rather than just their technical abilities.

Themes

SurgeonWisdomEmpathyServiceCare

In practice

Example use cases

In a medical conference discussing the qualities of a good surgeon.

More from Harvey Cushing

In these days when science is clearly in the saddle and when our knowledge of disease is advancing at a breathless pace, we are apt to forget that not all can ride and that he also serves who waits and who applies what the horseman discovers.
Harvey CushingRead
A physician is obligated to consider more than a diseased organ, more even than the whole man - he must view the man in his world.
Harvey CushingRead

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