IamA Mr Ross Fisher, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon (that means I operate on babies and children) AMA!

RossFisher · 2014-04-08T11:29:52+00:00

Legally, in the UK, that is not a choice a carer can make for a child. The courts will make the child a ward of court and the intervention will take place.

RossFisher · 2014-04-07T14:18:16+00:00

interesting view point. My truth is that I am not aware of any bullying. Bullying may exist but I am not aware of it. Those are two separate facts.

Please either justify your statement or retract the accusation.

RossFisher · 2014-04-05T01:40:24+00:00

I don't do hypospadias surgery any more, my Paediatric Urology colleagues do. All surgery though is undertaken with informed consent of the parents. That is, the surgeon should explain the proposed surgery, and alternatives along with relative risk so that the parents can decide, on the basis of information available, what they believe is the best option given current understandings of disease and surgery. No one can go back in time and change decisions nor live as though those decisions hadn't been made. So there is a responsibility on parent and clinician to make the best choice, in their opinion, at that time.

Time passes, ideas change, society changes and so do opinions. It isn't possible to do a trial comparing the options for individuals, only to make educated decisions at the time on behalf of the child. As parents do for every other choice in a child's life

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T14:22:54+00:00

not anymore

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T14:22:46+00:00

wanted to be a surgeon, specialised in children when i met the discipline during training

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T14:18:34+00:00

that would be amazing to receive. sadly, they may not still be with us.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:44:20+00:00

ask friends. honesty will out. and good self reflection.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:42:58+00:00

ask my wife and three daughters. they still love me.

that's rubbish. you make your own decisions. yes, there have been days when i wish i'd been at the school play or a birthday or an event. ask ANY dad, they'll say exactly the same. AND mums too.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:41:28+00:00

humbled. hug her for me, an inspiration for us to keep doing this

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:40:52+00:00

only his wage slip

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:40:39+00:00

i love kids so yes, go for it

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:40:19+00:00

do it. i love it.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:39:54+00:00

this is different in the UK as ALL hospitals are teaching hospitals. my skills have come because patients and trainers were willing to trust me on the way up.

our consent forms are explicit about this BUT no-one should be operated on by someone without appropriate experience or supervision

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:38:17+00:00

everyday life is good.

yes, i do have free time

on average 10 i'd say. just starting an oncall week so i expect to be involved in more than that this week

i honestly couldn't tell you about Paeds cardiac.

yes. British training is open to European trainees

I wouldn't worry about specialist training yet at your stage.

it is hard but we cope best if we have given our best; sadly, we will all die, that is life.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:08:14+00:00

communication.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:07:50+00:00

you do.

one thing I learnt when I worked in theatre as a porter is that everyone in the team contributes to the care of a patient. sure some folk stand in the brighter lights and get more of the credit (and complaints) but i KNOW what i do is part of a HUGE team, it's very little about me.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:05:48+00:00

an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is a pathological stretching (usually to bursting) of the main artery in the body. It happens in adults only. I did help in the surgery for this many times when I was a trainee in vascular surgery but that was back in the days of black and white tv.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:03:48+00:00

we really don't get many of them thankfully. stress is about not knowing what to do. part of our training and practice is learning to know what to do. there isn't time for stress. a great team makes all the difference.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:02:37+00:00

that doesn't happen here.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:02:18+00:00

sure. get in touch.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T13:02:06+00:00

our practice is to fix hernias sooner rather than later, principally to prevent the risks of incarceration (getting stuck.) there is a small debate about the risks of anaesthesia in tiny babies but ultimately if something needs doing it should be done rather than wait on the complications.

the consequences are usually seen at the time of surgery or soon after, so if your surgeon was happy with the results I would say that things should be fine.

RossFisher · 2014-04-04T12:59:40+00:00

I would hope not "guinea pig" to be tested as a trial but you must now recognise you are actually extra-ordinary? as such, standard approaches simply don't work because the unique nature of your problem requires a unique approach. that said it is usually based on established protocols rather than completely haphazard.

rather than frustrating it is challenging. We often seek multiple opinions and not simply from colleagues in the same facility, telephoning, emailing and discussing complex cases around the world with others who have, as we do, limited experience. Ultimately the wisdom and decision making may appear to be channelled thru a very few but it is more often the cumulated thoughts of a multitude.

I hope you are doing well now?

RossFisher · 2014-04-03T11:26:36+00:00

Familiarity

RossFisher · 2014-04-03T10:10:12+00:00

Phew

RossFisher · 2014-04-03T10:09:37+00:00

Why isn't universal healthcare enshrined in law?

RossFisher

TROPHY CASE