When becoming a doctor, will I have to operate in surgery? Or is that only for surgeons?

Question

I want to specialize in neurology.

Answer 1

Some surgery (assisting) is inevitable as part of your ongoing training.

Answer 2

10 years of nursing and she cant tell that neurologists don't operate.... good grief!

There are basically two types of doctors; physicians and surgeons. On the whole physicians don't operate. Although this distinction is becoming a little blurred with regard to certain specialities that involve interventional procedures, like cardiology or radiology. Going down this road is a matter of choice and not a necessary part of the job.

Answer 3

Get use to the OR, because you'll be one of the people around the patient's open skull. Now, you may not have a hand in the actual procedure (that's the surgeon's job), but you'll have to know the risk factors, the before and after treatment, and how to talk to the family about the procedure.

All I ask is don't be another Gregory House.

Answer 4

It is mostly surgeons who operate, neurology deals more with neurological things like stroke, ms, etc but you will have some surgery training as part of your residency

Answer 5

Neurologist don't operate on patients they are the ones that diagnose certain problems such as birth defects like hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy. They are there for patients in conjuction with a neurosurgeon. Neurosurgeons operate and place valves in the brain of patients with said birth defects, they also operate on the back and neck.

Answer 6

Yes, neurologists are typically surgeons as well as clinicians. If you're not interested in surgery, I'd choose a different path - say family practice.....

Good Luck to you!

Answer 7

A neurologist doesn't operate, a neurosurgeon does.