How Much A Gynaecologist Knows

In early 1970s, there were not many Orthopaedic Surgeons or Urologists. Most hospitals General Surgeons were therefore responsible for fixing fractures and treating Urological problems in addition to their work.

Professor Abdul Karim Al-Khateeb (one of the great General Surgery teachers) once told us in a ward round (we used to call it "Tour"):

A Physician knows everything about something!
A Surgeon knows something about everything!
A Gynaecologist knows nothing about nothing!

Well, I remember something similar to this, which might be true to some extent:

Physicians know everything but do nothing
Surgeons know nothing but do everything

No offense to any physicians or surgeons!

اني من يوم اللي داومت بمدينة الطب ولحد الان شفت شي واحد واضح انه اطباء النسائية خارج حدود النسائية كلشي ما يعرفون.....يعني مريض شوية عنده الم ببطنة خابرو الجراح شوية الم بصدره خابرو ابو الباطنية.....عبالك ما مخلصين اقامة دورية ولا مخلصين بكلوريوس طب وجراحة عامة

Mentioning Gynaecologists, reminds me of the greatest one of them all, and it is not Faisal Al-Sudani!

In 1975 and while a group of 6th year students were on a Gynaecology ward round with Professor Kamal Al-Samarai, he shouted angrily at a Hospital manager who was known to be a high ranking Baathi.

He then turned back in a very cool manners to the medical students and said "do not worry my dear students about me. I will not be harmed. I have seen the female genitals of all wives of all Iraqi Government Ministers and Revolutionary Command Council members. No one will dare look me in my eyes! I will be safe"

No harm happened to him indeed.

Great man!

Well I've heard the same thing to what you've mention Dr, only that it was for dermatologists rather than gynaecologists.

As for Dr Al-Sudani... well he was very courageous indeed!

Physician know evrything but do nothing...
Surgeons know nothing but do everything...
Gynecologists know nothing and do nothing...

cheers.