Dr. Harch Podcast: When Not Operating Is the Right Decision

Описание: In this video, Dr. Paul Harch shares a defining experience from his general surgery residency that shaped his approach to medicine and patient care. Training in a highly competitive surgical program where residents were expected to operate aggressively, young surgeons were taught a simple principle: to cut is to cure.
One night, Dr. Harch was assigned to perform a routine gallbladder surgery. But after spending extra time with the patient and carefully reviewing her symptoms, something did not seem right. The pattern of pain suggested a stomach ulcer rather than gallbladder disease.
Despite pressure from senior residents and the culture of the program, he made the decision to cancel the surgery and pursue further evaluation.
Hours later, the patient began vomiting large amounts of blood. Testing revealed a massive gastric ulcer that had eroded into a blood vessel. Had the surgery gone forward, the patient likely would have died during the operation.
This experience reinforced a critical lesson that would guide Dr. Harch’s career: medicine is not about following routines or protocols. It is about listening to the patient, understanding the underlying condition, and making decisions based on evidence and clinical judgment.
The story reflects the same philosophy that later guided his work in hyperbaric medicine — question assumptions, follow the science, and always put patient safety first.
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