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Does the value of saving lives outweigh the emotional burden of losing patients on a daily basis?

I am a high school senior currently enrolled to be a freshman at Boston College this fall. I interned at a hospital this summer, and saw the tragedies of the healthcare field. I am still interested in becoming a surgeon, but realize the emotional and physical toll it can have and wanted advice from someone in the field.

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Ashraf’s Answer

As a surgical resident for more than 3 years, it's the best feeling in the world, to be part of saving lives and fixing problems in the operating room.

Tragedies are everywhere, not exclusive to healthcare, the answer is
be neutral and accept the fact that you’re just another human being at the end of the day, it makes you feel more practical and self- satisfied, however, I quit the hospital settings and found opportunities in other vertical businesses that require doctors and physicians on board, as a medical insurance reviewer, clinical researcher or healthcare startups.

The main reason I left hospital settings was the lifestyle it offered and the feeling of weakness against fragile and corrupted healthcare systems, apart from that, I'm very satisfied with my surgical experience.

Hope this answer your question.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate your honest input! I was worried about the emotional aspect but you are right tragedies are everywhere and we can only do our best. Thanks again! Finnegan
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James’s Answer

Absolutely! I just retired from an almost 40-year career as a pediatric intensive care physician. I saved many more lives than lives I could not save. Your job as a physician isn't to save everyone, or lengthen life at all costs. It is to understand the goals and feelings of your patients and their families; to provide expert counsel; to spend enough time to be sure they understand complicated medical situations as well as possible; to get informed consent; to provide state of the art care; and to be there to cry with when/if things do not go as we might hope.
I have surprised my own family often when sharing that I lost a patient, but had a good day at work. I felt on such days that I did as well as was humanly possible (with a large team), including how I communicated with the patient and family.
Having said that, those who experience working in places where death isn't rare may find they do not have the emotional fortitude to manage it. Such (still wonderful) physicians choose specialties where death is infrequent.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! That provided a perspective I hadn’t thought of, as far as doing everything you could. Congrats on your time as a physician, and thanks again for taking the time to answer my question! Finnegan
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Julia’s Answer

It’s all about the mentally that you have and go in there with! I definitely think so!
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Finnegan
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