When a true Atheist is about to go in for surgery, do they check/mark the surgeons exam papers themselves?

Question

Or do they have faith in the surgeons qualifications?

Other question: Would an Atheist trust a Christian surgeon less than a non religous surgeon or one of a different religion?

Note: I am not saying anyones incorrect etc, just curious to how they view these things?

Leopold,
No I do not, it is others ignoring all other contexts of it that annoys me. It has 5 they all assume I mean the only 1 they're aware of.

Answer 1

going in for surgery is worrying for everyone, In the past I have just put my life in the hands of the surgeons, whether they are Catholic, Protestant or Atheist, I really couln't care less as long as they are good at their Job. But here in England you usually don't get to pick your surgeon anyway, this is the NHS, you get what whatever doctor is on call.

Answer 2

Don't be insane. I wouldn't care if freaking Oral Roberts was my surgeon, if he also had a lot of experience performing surgery.

More to the point, if you (assuming you're a strong-in-faith Christian) were about to go into major surgery, would you trust an avowed atheist (or agnostic, or non-theistic) surgeon with years of experience, or a devout Christian surgeon who was just out of residency?

But come to think of it, given equal levels of experience on the part of the surgeons, I think I *would* prefer an atheist, or at least a non-theist. Because they're more likely to try to keep me alive, as opposed to a strong Christian, who might say "Oh well, it was God's will."

But all that said I would never, ever, ever in a million years ask my surgeon about his or her religious convictions. And I hope that any surgeon who *was* asked that question would immediately drop my case and refer me to a different surgeon.

Answer 3

A medical qualification is evidence that the person who holds it has some form of training in what they are doing, and I would trust it to a point, perhaps of finding out from others they have operated on, if I had the lurury of time to do that.

Faith is not the same as trust. If I needed an operation, and a STRANGER CAME INTO THE hospital, and walked up to me, and said, look at this book, it says that all who believe in it are the true surgeons, let me heal you son, I would tell him to F@@k Off.

Answer 4

Not faith; reason.

I don't "just believe" that the surgeons know what they are doing.
I rather understand with good reason that they couldn't have got into that position without being medically qualified, and that if they had messed up before that, given what happens involving the media when surgeons do just that, they wouldn't still be there and operating. Statistically speaking, it is also likely that they have performed surgery before... and therefore are at least fairly experienced at it.


There is of course a possibility that I could be wrong, and in those circumstances I have allies who will take legal action against the surgeon in question on my behalf.....

Answer 5

Do you purposefully ignore the concept of context in attempt to annoy people who understand it?

Faith - noun

1) Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2) Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
3) Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
4) The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
5) A set of principles or beliefs.

If you cannot see the difference between the 1st, 2nd and 5th you're beyond help.

Answer 6

Have faith in a surgeons qulifications? Faith is the wrong word. The surgeon would not be operating unless he passed the relevant exams and had been tested on his knowledge by suitably qualified people.

When I'm ill I don't care what faith the surgeon or doctor is, as long as they can do their job. Religion doesn't come into it.

Answer 7

I'm aware that here in the UK doctors have passed a series of rigorous qualifications and tests before they're allowed to practice. They use scientific method and will never resort to praying to make me better. How could this possibly be called 'faith' in a doctor? It would be a foolish and misleading statement.

I wouldn't mind what religion the doctor was, if they're intelligent and highly educated its not likely they'll be any more than a moderate in whatever religion they choose to call their own.

Answer 8

There's plenty of evidence for the surgeon's abilities.

There's a diploma on the wall of their office. They talk to you reassuringly and knowledgeably about what you're about to undergo. It's not something you have to take on faith.

As long as their diploma isn't from Bob Jones, I'm fine with a Christian surgeon.

Answer 9

Trusting a surgeon has nothing to do with "faith". We have *evidence* that the surgeon is competent - qualifications, experience, recommendation from other doctors, etc.

Answer 10

Before I go to any new doctor I check out their credentials and licensing to make sure they don't have a history of errors, but as far as religion goes I could care less. My personal doctor is Jewish and as for the other two doctors I see on a semi-regular basis I have no idea what religion they are and I could care less either because they are great doctors.

So as far a surgeon goes, if their credentials check out and they are recommended by one of my own doctors I'm not going to be worried about what religion they have or don't have.