Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: INDEFATIGABLE (02/11/16)
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TITLE: Perfection Precision | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Bonney
02/16/16 -
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“I’m sorry sir, but this particular surgeon does not pray with his patients. Since time is of the essence in your case, I would not recommend waiting for another doctor to take care of your problem. Rest assured, your nurse and I will pray for you before your are taken to pre-op, along with your wife and children. . .”
Like the adept surgeon he was, Dr. Toborp carefully lifted the infected tumor out of the patient’s distended, open abdomen. The computerized monitor screen enlarged the affected area for the student residents’ benefit who were up in the observation gallery.
“Look at that,” assisting Dr. Roberto exclaimed, “you don’t need me at all, Toborp; your dexterity for small spaces outdoes mine, every time—what a superb performance!”
Toborp’s schedule was taxing this day—sixteen surgeries, almost back-to-back, not counting any emergency procedures that were apt to come up. Complaining that it was exhausting just to watch the surgeon, a couple of the younger residents fell asleep half-way through the afternoon. There were cameras all over the policed hospital, the operating rooms no exception, so the dozing students would be disciplined for their lack of concentration.
Like a British changing-of-the-guard, the assisting nurse teams had changed four times. Handling the pristinely sterilized instruments they firmly placed in the outstretched doctor’s hand eventually tired them out. Although the room was air-conditioned and quite cool, their perspiring mask-donned faces dripped while hand tremors threatened their normal abilities.
“Looks like the doc is in overdrive mode again today,” one of the retiring replacements sympathized with the new head nurse replacing her.
Dr Toborp, oblivious to his surgical co-workers’ fatigue, continued to perform methodical, precise procedures, his dexterity unmatched and his energy in no way compromised. There was no sweat upon his brow, no shaking of his sure hands, no bungling of the stitches, no hesitations of his technique. He was on a roll, the highest stakes of his career as a surgeon looming over his cool demeanor like worthless strikes of lightening.
Years earlier, as an intern plebe, this renowned surgeon was in the process of tweaking his future prowess, observing experienced surgeons’ skills and accompanying liabilities from exhaustion and limitation stemming from overworked hand muscles and tightening neck muscle tics that made it necessary for assistants to spell them. This sometimes compromised the patient, minute peculiarities of each surgeon’s touch enough to affect the final outcome. Like an antivenin to a rattlesnake bite, the young man, super-energized and alert even then, would be the solution to these issues.
However, Dr Toborp was incapable of the heart required to tend to emotional needs. The surgeon’s peers and colleagues criticized him for his lack of good bedside manners as they took over post-operative care of his recovering patients; but they could not discount his surgical room—seemingly invincible—fortitude.
Finally, at his day’s end, Dr. Toborp retired to his quarters for the evening. During his “off” mode, a group of massage therapists and rehabilitation specialists swarmed around him like a colony of bees to their queen. This surgeon was of inestimable value to the progressive reputation of their health system; and, as such, deserved preventative maintenance of the highest caliber. Like octopus arms, replenishment IV’s and various monitors hooked up to his body, corded tentacles crisscrossing each other in a maze of complicated plugs and fuses reminiscent of a mad scientist’s latest lab project.
The surgeon, a.k.a. Dr. Probot, was ultimately left alone for the next few hours, recharging his spent batteries for another day. . .
Today, robots and robot enhancements are continually researched and developed. These have the potential to expand surgical expertise beyond the limits of human ability. Some systems are broad master-slave multi-armed surgical robots that are operated remotely from a console and a computer. But the extra space and cosst requirements of robotic surgical systems is a challenge that has impeded a quick switch-over to this technological advance in the medical field. Whether or not the benefit of its usage overcomes the cost to implement it is still controversial.
Added to this is the moral aspect of the non-human contact and blaming inaccuracies to technical glitches, along with not having the capability to treat a patient with the human attributes of compassion and heart.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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