You Are the Perfect Age: An Inquiry into Surgical Ethics during the Arc of a Career

Abstract

There is an old saying that history only makes sense in retrospect. I am sure that I am as susceptible to this adage as any other person. However, I will tell the story of my long history as an amateur medical ethicist, which is, to this day, how I would describe myself. My interest in the ethics of medicine, particularly as these ethical principles apply to interventions or procedures, started at a young age, fairly frequently going to the hospital with my father, a General and Thoracic Surgeon. I think that I found myself agreeing to accompany him, when invited, presuming that doing so would be a chance to spend some time with my dad, who was, throughout my childhood, either a surgical resident or a busy practicing surgeon. I will admit that I probably also figured that, at least late at night on the way home, we would stop by some establishment where we could get burgers and fries. However, I will start my reminiscences and reflections on these issues with a more recent story, as it prompted me to think back on my perceptions of those experiences of my youth.