29/07/2025
THE SENIOR JUNIOR MISCONCEPTIONS !
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During my house job rotation in General Surgery, I was once assigned to give a presentation on the step-ladder pattern of pain management. Everything was going smoothly until I reached the slide discussing aspirin, where I stated that aspirin is an NSAID.
One of the senior registrars immediately interrupted, visibly infuriated. She stopped the presentation, accused me of coming unprepared, and insisted that aspirin is not an NSAID. In front of the entire team, she humiliated not just me, but also my registrar (the leader of our group).
She said:
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ππππππ π ππππ ππ 1000 π·π²πΉβ
I was stunned by the reaction.
Later, I showed my registrar credible sources confirming that aspirin is in fact classified as an NSAID. He acknowledged the error, cancelled the fine, and apologised on her behalf.
Only later did I find out that her response had little to do with my presentation; it was actually due to a personal conflict with our registrar, and I had simply been a convenient target. Sadly, she never apologised to me or my registrar for this behaviour.
This experience reflects a deeper problem in the medical training system in Pakistan, a culture where hierarchy is prioritised over humility, and humiliation is too often used as a teaching tool.
In contrast, during my clinical attachment in the UK, I found a completely different approach. My supervising consultant would often say things like,
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πππ ππ πππππππ ππππ ππ ππππ πππππππππ. πππ πππ ππππ ππ ππ πππ ππππππππ ππ?β
And if I didnβt know, we would simply search for it together on the internet.
There was no shame in not knowing, only a shared commitment to finding the right answer. That culture of mutual respect, open discussion, and lifelong learning was truly empowering.
This contrast highlights a crucial need in our healthcare training systems to move away from blame and intimidation, and towards a more supportive, respectful, and collaborative environment. Medical education should nurture curiosity, not fear. Because in the end, weβre all still learning and that should be okay.
