R. Ribes – Surgical English

Автор: R. Ribes
Название книги: Surgical English (2010)
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Медицина
Страницы: 332
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

Surgeons around the world need a basic knowledge of English to keep up with advances in their field, and fluency in English is key to attending to many patients. This book offers the basic tools to handle day-to-day surgical situations in English.

Over 2 years ago, when Dr. Ribes invited me to work on this book I thought it
was a great idea. However, I was convinced that I would not be able to collaborate
on this project for two reasons: fi rst, I did not feel profi cient enough to take
on this task, and second, I thought that I would never be able to fi nd the time to
do it.
Later, he gave me copies of two excellent books that he wrote in collaboration
with others, Medical English and Radiological English, with a handwritten
dedication saying, “You are the right person to write Surgical English.” This
made me reconsider undertaking the project. It has taken me more than 2 years
to fi nish my part of the book.… I thank Dr. Ribes for his patience.
I have my father and mother to thank for “forcing” me to learn English when
I was at school and for actually pushing me to be an exchange student in the
USA as a teenager. As a kidney specialist, my father knows that without a minimum
level of English it is diffi cult to progress beyond the boundaries of your
language or get involved in international projects. Later, I had the privilege of
spending short periods in different hospitals in Europe and in the USA, when I
was a medical student, a resident, and as a fully trained surgeon. This experience
included stays at hospitals in English-speaking countries, like Hammersmith in
London or Stanford Hospitals and Clinics in California, as well as at hospitals
in non-English-speaking countries, like the Berlin Heart Center, Leiden
University Medical Center, and the Cologne City Hospital, among others. This
has been one of the most enriching experiences in my life and has opened many
doors, both personally and professionally. Like other specialists, surgeons have
to study hard to keep our knowledge up to date. However, unlike some other
specialists, we also need to see other surgeons working and to acquire the skills
that will enable us to master their surgical techniques. Profi ciency in English is
of paramount importance for understanding the scientifi c literature (needless to
say, 90% of medical publications are written in English), for understanding colleagues
at international congresses, and for communicating when participating
actively.
Perhaps everybody knows that English is the language of science. But it is
only when you travel to a different country that you really become aware of the
need to speak English. First, you need a minimum level of English to introduce
yourself and request permission to visit a hospital or apply for a job abroad.
Then you will need the skills to survive in the operating theatre: for example you need to know the names of the instruments, and how to establish personal
and professional relationships with the staff. Regardless of whether you go to an
English-speaking country or to another country where you do not know the
local language, English will be your most important instrument abroad.
There is a real need for a book like this one. We sincerely believe it will provide
you with the basic skills to survive in the international surgical arena of the
new millennium.

Writing a book on such a broad topic as “Surgical English” is probably as bold
as talking about “the history of the Roman Empire.” However, the broad scope
of this book is offset by its simple approach and realistic goals. While it would
be practically impossible to cover all the terminology used in the different surgical
specialties, numerous topics and ways of doing things are relevant to all
surgical specialties, and many instruments are common to most of them.
Furthermore, surgeons all over the world face similar situations like writing a
surgical protocol, visiting patients in the ward, or asking for informed consent.
In this book, we will also provide advice about giving oral presentations at international
congresses, writing articles, and moving around the operating room (or
OR as it is invariably referred to in American hospitals).
Given the importance of the English language in medical science, surgeons
all over the world should benefi t from this book; it will be invaluable to those
who wish to practice in a different country, do a fellowship in a different hospital,
or simply spend a few weeks in a hospital with a language other than their
own. Even if you travel to a country where English is not one of the main languages
spoken on the street, it will enable you to communicate with the people
around you in hospitals in most countries.
While much of this book is dedicated to helping you master the basics, it will
also be useful if you already have an excellent command of the English language.
Professional life in a foreign country brings up countless challenges to
even the most profi cient speakers. It will always be helpful to have a pocket
book to remind you of some specifi c words or to help you deal with specifi c
situations.
You can read this book straight through or jump from chapter to chapter, as
each chapter covers an independent topic.
We hope that you enjoy this book and that you fi nd it helpful in your life and
career.