Surgery Error — Hey, We’re All Human

Here’s a quick story I felt was important to share…

Eight months ago, I performed a surgery of about 2500 grafts. The day following the surgery, I noted that the hairline was not in balance (the right side was 1/4 inch higher than the left side). I mentioned it to the patient and suggested that we could modify the surgery and balance the hairline better. He was surprised when I told him of my error, because he did not see the imbalance. What we agreed to do was to wait until all of the hair grew in and then address the imbalance.

The patient came in this week. I reminded him of the problem. We looked at it carefully and he said that he still did not notice the problem and was fine with it the way it was. I have always had a rule that if something goes wrong, I will always tell the patient when I realize the problem. No one is perfect and even under the most careful watch, things can go wrong. Honesty is always the best policy and I have found that my patients recognize the honesty as a good trait, one that builds confidence.

So while the problem may have gone unseen by the patient, it was my duty as his doctor to share my error with him, no matter how minor it may have been.