Racist surgeon?

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So I've been working at this hospital for over a year, in a rural part of the South, one that seems to be stuck in the 50s. The environment in this hospital isn't that bad as most of the docs, nurses, etc. are from other cities and some from other countries. However, there is this one surgeon who is the most racist person here I've ever met. He casually uses slurs to describe other races. He referred to an attending as "buckwheat" repeatedly. I overheard him one day taking to the CHIEF OF SURGERY and in the course of 2 minutes used slurs to describe blacks, hispanics, asians and jews and they both laughed. I can't believe people like this still exist. His behavior seemed to be just accepted here.

Seriously?? Racist, sexist rants make your professional world more engaging and diverse? I can't quite wrap my mind around your world.

OP, if you were working in a larger city/hospital/system, my advice would be to file a complaint against the racist surgeon. However, give your situation in a small town/hospital, I very grudgingly go along with the "nothing you can do" advice. S*** like this that turns a working environment into a hostile situation makes me sick. I'm happy to tell you that that behavior would not be tolerated in my hospital. Granted, the surgeon would not be sanctioned/terminated as quickly as a scrub tech or nurse, but it WOULD eventually happen. I've seen it happen more than once.

I'm sorry for your situation.

I read the point of the post to be that when evaluating another's actions or comments we must take into account our own personal ethnocentricity. There is a HUGE difference between racism and acknowledging various races and cultures.

Cultural context is very important.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I read the point of the post to be that when evaluating another's actions or comments we must take into account our own personal ethnocentricity. There is a HUGE difference between racism and acknowledging various races and cultures.

Cultural context is very important.

I agree to a point, but in no way did OP's description of the surgeon imply a cultural misunderstanding. Rather, the OP described the activity as "slurs" that were being chuckled over. The context seems very clear.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Of course people like that still exist. And, he is an almighty surgeon to boot.
However, highly educated people such as surgeons tend to have the intelligence level to hide their racism unless they are cloaked by the relative safety of their inner circle of family and friends.

In my experience, undereducated ignorati with nothing to lose will broadcast their racially prejudiced views openly and unapologetically. On the other hand, racist people whose livelihoods depend on decent professional reputations (e.g. college presidents, physicians, attorneys) will act like the most tolerant people in public while spewing offensive rhetoric in private.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I agree to a point, but in no way did OP's description of the surgeon imply a cultural misunderstanding. Rather, the OP described the activity as "slurs" that were being chuckled over. The context seems very clear.
Yep...tolerant, anti-racist people usually do not refer to dark-skinned colleagues as 'buckwheat.' The context in which the comments were made seems clear to me.
Specializes in Critical care.
Yep...tolerant, anti-racist people usually do not refer to dark-skinned colleagues as 'buckwheat.' The context in which the comments were made seems clear to me.

I agree with Roser and Commuter. No wiggle room for cultural interpretation with 'buckwheat', in my opinion.

I read the point of the post to be that when evaluating another's actions or comments we must take into account our own personal ethnocentricity. There is a HUGE difference between racism and acknowledging various races and cultures.

Cultural context is very important.

I grew up in the South after my dad retired from the Navy and "cultural context" in the context of this post implies things that I'm sorry to say I find insulting. Not all of us who claim that region are backwards, racist idiots with no life experience. This surgeon, despite what the rest of the world seems to think (thanks, CNN, by the way) is in a minority - unfortunately a very vocal one, but a minority nonetheless. So the only "cultural context" here is his complete ignorance and his own "color" - which in my book is seven shades of stupid.

This dude better be glad I don't work with him. I'd get him fired - and yes, there are ways. Starting with the ACLU is one, because they'd love this.

I'll bet a paycheck I'm overreacting here, but I'm a bit sensitive when this sort of stuff starts up. Not everyone who drinks iced tea and speaks with a Southern lilt is a raging racist - and I've met plenty of people who make that assumption the second I open my mouth, which is as disgusting and as prejudiced as the things they're inwardly accusing me of when they don't even know me.

In my experience, undereducated ignorati.....

Just letting you know I'm stealing this word. :)

Something about the title of this thread immediately turned me off. "Racist Surgeon(?)"

I know it's easy to pick on surgeons, and maybe that's why this post bothers me. This observation-- thinly disguised as a question-- could equally apply to anyone from within any healthcare setting. And that goes for non-whites as well.

None of this finger pointing does anyone any good.

Just letting you know I'm stealing this word. :)

So am I :D

Something about the title of this thread immediately turned me off. "Racist Surgeon(?)"

I know it's easy to pick on surgeons, and maybe that's why this post bothers me. This observation-- thinly disguised as a question-- could equally apply to anyone from within any healthcare setting. And that goes for non-whites as well.

None of this finger pointing does anyone any good.

Who is specifically having a field day with the fact this dude is a surgeon, or making a point of him being one - other than the one person who observed that you'd think such an extensive education would've taught him a thing or two about life?

I read it as - "A SURGEON is this, well, backward? A surgeon? Seriously?"

Having lived in the South for most of my life (I seem to end up there no matter how many times I move away), I have met people who have never left the confines of the county they were born in - yes, literally - and who have a very limited view of the world from childhood, sometimes through no fault of their own. In the 21st century, that offers zero excuse for attitudes like this guy's - thirty years ago, however, before internet, widespread communication, and the information age, one could see how such a thing could happen.

It's pretty surprising to hear of that sort of talk from someone who's presumably close to my age - possibly even older (and maybe a bit younger) - who has all those years of education and exposure to a wider world and wider ideas, who went to college and discussed all sorts of topics and was exposed to an assortment of viewpoints, yet remains stuck in this archaic mindset. I'm afraid even my reaction would resemble this - and I've lived on three continents, in six countries, and nine states.

And yes, I will judge such attitudes (and will feel free to answer for that one day), and I will also pity them. Having such a narrow view of this marvelous world we live in IS pitiable.

I think far too much is being inferred into this thread's title.

I appreciate you sharing this here on Allnurses. His behavior is obviously tolerated by many at this hospital. It's horrible and disgusting that he uses such hurtful racial slurs. It's disturbing that he feels so comfortable openly saying racist descriptions. Eventually, karma will come around and bite him in the rear. If he has kids maybe they'll marry someone black, hispanic, asian, or even Jewish. He sounds old..."buckwheat"....LOL. Noone under the age of 35 knows who buckwheat is.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Woundcare, Stepdown.

Yes people still think that way and it is unfortunate that we have to be in their presence. Some people choose to remain ignorant because that is their comfort zone. I overheard a doctor saying a racist statement and I asked him if he knew that the statement was offensive to certain groups of people. He became quiet and changed the subject. My main concern is or question is, if a medical professional is a racist how are they treating/caring their opposite or different race patients? The same as all patients or different!!!

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