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The Voices of Neurosurgeons: Doctors' Non-Medical Writing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Mark Bernstein
Mark Bernstein*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

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Biomedical publishing is an integral part of medicine—both to those who produce it and those who consume it to improve the care of their patients. Non-medical writing by surgeons usually takes the form of creative non-fiction, generally reflective essays on moving and emotionally charged situations such as working in the trenches in war-time or in natural disasters, or dealing with individual patients. Such writing is both creative and cathartic for neurosurgeons, and can help educate patients thus improving the doctor-patient relationship. The purpose of this article is to encourage fellow neurosurgeons to pursue this enjoyable and valuable endeavour, to utter a call to arms so to speak.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ:

La publication biomédicale est une partie intégrale de la médecine, tant pour ceux qui la produisent que pour ceux qui l’utilisent pour améliorer le soin de leurs patients. Les écrits non médicaux de chirurgiens prennent généralement la forme d’essais livrant leurs réflexions sur des situations bouleversantes et pleines d’émotions comme le travail dans les tranchées en temps de guerre ou lors d’un désastre naturel ou sur le soin de patients particuliers. Ces écrits sont créatifs et ils sont également cathartiques pour les neurochirurgiens. Ils peuvent également aider à informer les patients et ainsi améliorer la relation médecin-patient. Le but de cet article est d’encourager mes collègues neurochirurgiens à poursuivre cette activité agréable et utile : c’est en quelque sorte un appel aux armes.

Type
Article Commentary
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , May 2007 , pp. 121 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2007

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