The General Surgeon: Importance and Role in Smaller Hospitals
March 1986
in “
BMJ
”
TLDR General surgeons are crucial for handling various emergencies in small hospitals and should balance broad skills with some specialization for effective, economical community care.
In 1986, Miles Irving discussed the importance of the general surgeon, highlighting their essential role in smaller hospitals and the broad range of surgical emergencies they manage. He argued that while specialization is necessary for complex cases, general surgeons should maintain a broad skill set and possibly develop a special interest to keep pace with medical advancements. Irving stressed that technical competence is derived from training and ability, not just specialization, and cautioned against extreme specialization due to potential negative impacts on patient care. He concluded that training general surgeons is economically sound and beneficial for communities. Additionally, the article briefly mentioned an unrelated case of hair loss in two women taking medication for acne and discussed the ethical responsibilities of pathologists in patient care.
