New Delhi, Aug. 15 -- For surgeons of my generation, the "surgical personality" is a clearly identifiable trait. We could fairly accurately recognise which medical student would specialise in a medical versus a surgical discipline. Dr Kathy Hughes in her blog Behind the Mask says novelist Richard Gordon's popular creation, Sir Lancelot Spratt, epitomises the stereotypical surgeon, usually male with a "testosterone-induced swagger, confident, brash, charismatic and commanding to the point of arrogance".

"He is volatile, even bullying and abusive. Cuts first, asks questions later, because to cut is to cure, and the best cure is cold, hard steel. Sometimes wrong, but never in doubt. Good with his hands, but has no time to explain. Compassio...