Author of quotes: Henry Marsh

In the end, do not forget that a quarter of all the heart pumped blood flows to the brain. Thinking is very energy-intensive process.

The error can make everyone, and we understand that. The problem is that when a mistake is made, doctors like me, the consequences for patients can be catastrophic.

No wonder we often believe in superhuman abilities of physicians: this is a great way to overcome fears. If the operation is successful, the surgeon is a hero, if not - then he is a criminal.

All surgeons worry when the patient is someone from colleagues. This feeling is irrational, because compared to the other patients colleagues are far less likely to claim if something goes wrong, as surgeons know all too well that physicians are ordinary people who make mistakes, and that the outcome of the operation is not only dependent on them. The surgeons, his colleague, is experiencing this irrational fear for the reason that of the usual detachment cannot be and speeches, - he feels completely defenseless. He knows that the patient does not consider him omnipotent.

Neurosurgeons sometimes compare operation on the aneurysm defusing a bomb, although in this case requires a completely different kind of courage, because the risk to the life of the patient, not the doctor.

Everyday problems often are the most important.

I understand that you need to come to terms with such things - I awkwardly continued. But anyone, anyone other than a neurosurgeon, did not come to understand what it's like every day (sometimes several months) to force myself to come again and again to the ward to see the man you made invalid to face face to face with his family, which once believed in you.

It is much easier to sympathize with people, if not responsible for what happens to them.

One would assume that when you see so much suffering and pain, begin to relate easier to their own challenges. But this, alas, is not happening.

Over the years of practice I have learned: when presented with bad news, it is better to say as little as possible.

Each surgeon carries a small cemetery, in which from time to time goes to pray - the focus of bitterness and regret, where it should look for the causes of their failures.

To live without hope is incredibly difficult, but in the end, the hope can easily fool any of us.

If a person has a hammer, he is everywhere haunted by missed nails.

The greatest achievement of surgeon - recovered patients, who completely forget about it.