Surgeons, take this Pause to ensure surgery is really wanted

Just because a patient consults a surgeon, it does not necessarily mean they want surgery, and the Surgical Pause helps doctors estimate their risk for post-operative death and tailor treatment for a better outcome. — Filepic

Dr Daniel Hall has shimmied gallbladders out of half-inch-wide laparoscopic incisions and performed life-saving surgeries at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Philadelphia, United States, since 2007.

But early in his career, he realised it’s the 2am phone calls that motivate him the most.