The cycle of abuse

Surgeons definitely have a rep for being jerks. Not all surgeons mind you, but if you were to ask anyone in medicine, name the specialty that is most known for being total assholes,I’d bet the farm that surgery would win. (The real intrigue is to who would come in second.) But maybe it’s not their fault. It’s hard to NOT become an asshole yourself when your attendings, who are there to serve as mentors and role models, are totals dicks to you as the resident. This poor resident I saw this morning, his attending was just being a total douche bag to him. Basically using every tone of voice and body language to convey the message “I had no idea how much of a complete waste of space you are” I tried to sympathize with him when the attending left, you know crack a joke about it all, but he was a total dick to me turn, so I instantly lost all compassion for him. I’m pretty sure I muttered ”suck it” under my breath as he walked away. But I don’t really blame him, given that’s what he is working with as a role model.