Breaking the Ice
May 14th, 2009 § 4 Comments
I usually meet a patient for the first time when I show up to take some photos or shoot a video. The doctor or nurses treating the patient will have informed the patient and asked for his or her permission. But although they have agreed, most patients are a bit nervous of a camera (and yet another person in scrubs) entering into their hospital life. By the time I arrive, ice have formed. « Read the rest of this entry »
Nauseated
May 11th, 2009 § 2 Comments
I read this interesting article by an American surgeon on getting used to cutting people, and it got me thinking of one of the most common reactions I get from non-medical colleagues and friends when talking about or showing my work: Don’t you get nauseated?
My office is the office closest to a door used by all the smokers in my department. I usually work with my door open, so whenever I’m editing and someone’s on their way to a smoke, there’s a lot of OMGs and yucks to be heard. A few are intrigued and stops for a while, but most rush past, making sure not to watch the computer screens. They cannot understand how I can stand working with this stuff. « Read the rest of this entry »
A sudden jolt of sadness
November 8th, 2008 § 3 Comments
I work at a cancer hospital, and I’ve lost family members to cancer. On a usual workday this is not something I think about a lot, except that it adds an extra dimension to the work I’m doing. But sometimes, little things and moments can suddenly make me sad. « Read the rest of this entry »
The surgeon’s domain
October 17th, 2008 § 4 Comments
When you’re entering the OR, you’re entering a domain under the supreme reign of the surgeon. Not that you could ever fail to notice. « Read the rest of this entry »
Lift me
September 2nd, 2008 § 5 Comments
Now and then, while waiting for an operation to start, I’m asked to help with the preparations. Nurses rush back and forth, and the schedule is tight, so a couple of idle hands are useful. I’m not trained in OR procedures, but over the years I’ve seen enough to know roughly what to do. I know how to open a sterile package, tie a gown and stuff like that. Today I was asked to help move the patient. « Read the rest of this entry »
Detachment
April 21st, 2008 § 1 Comment
Many people find interest in surgery to be incomprehensible and even a bit bizarre, referring to the diseases and inevitable memento mori the subject implies.
Lately I’ve been asking myself the question: Would I be as interested in surgery and anatomy if I wasn’t so detached from these implications myself? « Read the rest of this entry »
Diagnosis and aspiration
April 4th, 2008 § 3 Comments
diagnosis
1. the process of determining by examination the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition.
2. the decision reached from such an examination.
gnosis
knowledge of spiritual matters; mystical knowledge.
This bastard’s voice
March 26th, 2008 § 3 Comments
I am my own master. At least when it comes to video voice-overs.
I’ve just been through a longer period of editing and adding finishing touches to a series of videos. This includes recording voice-overs (VO) using my own humble vocal chords. « Read the rest of this entry »
Retirement
March 8th, 2008 § Leave a Comment
Time passes relentlessly in any profession. Retirement may come as a welcome reward after a long working life, or it may come as an unwanted end. Or so I guess. I’m not even halfway there. Lately I’ve had the pleasure of working with two recently retired surgeons. It seems to me retirement can be a more drastic moment in mentor based professions like surgery.
« Read the rest of this entry »
You’re not recording sound, are you?
February 12th, 2008 § 6 Comments
There is one question I always get when I’m filming an operation. No matter if the surgical team knows me or not, someone always asks me, with a concerned look on their face, if I’m recording the sound (photo credit).
« Read the rest of this entry »
