Surgeons can fall ill just like anybody else but it can be difficult to judge whether one is well enough to operate. You cannot cry off operating just because you are feeling a little out of sorts but nor would anybody want to be operated upon by a sick surgeon. I learned a long time ago that I can operate perfectly well despite being tired, as when I am operating I am in an intense state of arousal. Sleep deprivation research has shown that people make mistakes if moderately deprived of sleep when they are carrying out boring, monotonous tasks. Surgery – however trivial the operation – is
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