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CUTTING REMARKS
John D. Kelly IV, MD
Overheard in the OR
From crude to courteous, surgery has a language all its own.
T
he OR has a language all its own. How we choose our words
directly impacts the energy of the operating room. As Mother
Teresa said, "Kind words can be short and easy to speak,
That patient
but their echoes are truly endless." The OR should be a place is jammed up!
of calm and positive energy. Be aware of the words you and
others bring to this sanctuary of healing.
Courteous and respectful
What the nuns taught me really works. When you use words
What a
Gomer!
that show respect and kindness, positive energy abounds,
cases flow and calmness is palpable. To use considerate and
kind words, even in the face of high stress, shows character and
self control. Even if the instruments aren't sterile, the
arthroscopy camera is malfunctioning and my favorite tool is
#@!%
missing in action, I do my best to maintain a calm, collected
and respectful demeanor. (My real secret is popping an
Ativan in the a.m.) "What we sow around, comes around." After
23 years of practice, I recognize, more than ever, the value of
courtesy and civility.
Thank you
F Bombs
My father was a Marine and was dedicated to honor and integrity.
He had absolutely no tolerance for foul language — especially in
the presence of a woman. I inherited this virtue and am amazed
how many unsavory comments are made regularly in the surgical
suite. The OR can be very stressful, especially when the surgeon
experiences difficulty, loses control and spirals downward in a runaway
case. If surgeons and staff drop F Bombs, you can feel the energy shift.
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A U G U S T 2013
