During a long cosmetic case in Private last week, I had to eat my lunch in the anteroom next to the theatre, watching my patient through the window to ensure everything was trucking along safely.
While I was eating, two of the anaesthetic techs were having a conversation behind me about their experiences working in Syria. They spoke of life saving surgeries being carried out in hospitals undergoing mortar fire. They would have a small mobile table ready to be wheeled across the operating table to provide a protective shield for the patient if the shelling got too bad, while the theatre staff would shelter in doorways until it was safe to resume operating. It made me wonder about the value of what I was doing, anaesthetising a patient for a tummy tuck and boob lift. Not lifesaving in any sense of the word, and I’d be paid way more than anyone working in those operating theatres in a war zone.
On the other hand, I have all that brand new laundry white ware to pay for, plus my patient was going to be very pleased and grateful after her surgery – isn’t adding to the sum total of human happiness a good thing?
Anyway, I have my work in Public to assuage my guilt. Don’t judge me!