[defrost]

> However, idiots never become surgeons.

That would once have been taken as gospel, then came Ben Carson standing by his statement that Egyptian pyramids were built for grain storage.

In the medical world there are strong opinions as to whether the procedural dexterity inherent in excelling as a surgeon also requires better than average reasoning prowess.

[lupusreal]

That's a pretty crazy example but I can top it. I've met programmers who think that Communism works and that Stalin was an admirable guy. Honest to god tankies.

[mc32]

I mean, there are unlicensed surgeons, who, presumably are unlicensed for multiple reasons, but one might be not being able to get certain degrees from accredited institutions -so, yeah, idiots do become surgeons of a type.

[defrost]

Ben Carson is (or was, likely not practicing anymore, I'd have to check) an acclaimed brain surgeon. I do not intend to diminish that in any way whatsoever.

Carson has also uttered statements in total sincerity that boggle the minds of historians, physicists, and the generally logically inclined. When questioned he's doubled down on "reasoning" that is considered to be anything but.

It highlights that we as a whole need to consider our role models for various peaks of achievement; medicine is a hard degree, it takes epic feats of rote memorisation and recall of thick textbooks, the ability to associate collections of indicators with multitudes of potential causes, the ability to grind and grind hard long hours through residency.

Surgery, for some, is a turn away from diagnostics towards human carpentry .. with no disrespect to surgeons, that's a framing they've heard before and a number embrace.