Disruptive behavior in the OR

An anonymous essay in the Annals of Internal Medicine is shedding light on physician disruptive behavior that might normally slip under the radar because it happens while patients are under sedation. The author of the article, who remained anonymous, recounts stories of medical students witnessing inappropriate behavior/comments made by attending physicians toward patients under general anesthesia. One medical student recalls being in the operating room when a surgeon suggested an anesthetized hysterectomy patient was “enjoying” the preparation for the procedure. The student admitted feeling pressured to laugh along.

Many physicians are reacting strongly, saying the actions of the physicians in the essay are inexcusable and criminal. This response from the medical community is one of the reasons Annals of Internal Medicine published the article.

“By shining a light on the dark side of the profession, we emphasize to physicians young and old that this behavior is unacceptable—we should not only refrain from personally acting in such a manner but also call out our colleagues who do,” the journal’s editors wrote in an editorial that accompanied the essay.

Source: SF Gate