i Editor's Letter: Is it wise to publish surgeon death rates?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Who wants to find the grim reaper of surgeons looming over the end of the operating table, with a scythe instead of a scalpel?
The NHS decision to publish individual surgeons’ death rates is borne of a commendable desire for transparency in an age of fractured public trust. The dangers are already apparent, though.
Some of Britain’s most skilled, experienced surgeons are renowned for taking on the trickiest cases. So a doctor whose stats suggest he’s taking commission from the Big Man may in fact be beating the odds every week in keeping so many of his patients alive.
When a chum of mine agreed to an operation to try to remove a rare cancer of the spine (it’s disconcerting when the consultant smiles and declares: “Yes, very unusual!”) he was warned that it carried a risk of paralysis, maybe death. But the surgeon suggested they proceed with the op – rather than send him away to die slowly, far from the statistics columns. My friend recovered.
Publishing death rates will “put pressure on younger surgeons not to do any difficult surgery at all”, vascular surgeon Peter McCollum claimed yesterday, explaining why he has chosen to opt out.
Wise, then, while welcoming doctors’ disclosure, to take these death ratings with a healthy pinch of salt.
********
Thanks for such generous messages after yesterday’s Letter. Three days on and I’m still beaming.
Should rains fall on the Glastonbury 180,000 this weekend, please spare a thought for our colleague Chris Blackhurst, who is preparing for his new Wednesday column in i (hooray) by sleeping in a Somerset field in his yurt. Rumours of his Pyramid Stage debut are unfounded.
Twitter.com: @olyduff
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments