Carson is damaging the reputation of brain surgeons

As for brain surgery itself, the entire global profession can only watch him in horror. Along with neonatal and heart surgeons, brain surgeons are the rock stars of the surgical world. They are the most brilliant, the most feted, the most likely to be played by the hottest actor in a TV drama.

Yet, at the current rate of Carsonification, we could see some epochal disturbance in the rankings, as brain surgeons become gradually but powerfully aware that they are suddenly being talked down to at teaching hospital cocktail parties by an ENT guy, or – shudder – some absolute nobody from orthopaedics. By mid-2016 there will be people who’ve operated on Katie Price who are more respected than brain surgeons.

“Heal. Inspire. Revive” runs Carson’s slogan, even as he threatens to do quite the opposite to the reputation of brain surgery. Could he plunge its trust and esteem ranking down to the level of politicians and estate agents? I don’t think even he could debase neurosurgeons down to the level of journalists – still, another few historical digressions and he might surprise us.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/06/ben-carson-us-presidency-brain-surgery