Resilience for Surgeons: Lessons from the Philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita

Excerpt

The practice of surgery is inherently complex and fraught with challenges, where even the most skilled hands cannot completely eliminate the risk of complications. Despite our relentless efforts to ensure patient safety, surgical complications remain a reality, affecting hospitals, surgeons, and patients alike. A mentor once shared a profound observation with me: only two individuals can claim a zero percent complication rate in surgery — God, and the surgeon who never operates. This underscores the fact that surgeons, no matter how experienced, will inevitably face situations where patients may develop postoperative complications. Unfortunately, though rare, these complications can sometimes lead to patient mortality. …