Having noted that Jan Davies' comments enrich the debate, here are
some of my reactions to cockpit vs the operating room.
Flying is very safe nowadays (the expectation is of only one major
hull loss in millions of take-offs). Human failure remains a major
factor - in as many as three out of four accidents. In other words, on
those three occasions, the crew encountered a test that they failed.
Dealing with this factor - better equipping all crew with appropriate
skills - will result in flying being even safer, three times safer.
Say the average pilot career is 5,000 take-offs. Few pilots are likely
to encounter the maximum test. The truly 'life-saving' skills are thus
unlikely to be called upon, for most pilots. Whereas a surgeon is,
presumably, functioning at the 'life-saving' skill level every
operating hour. That's why I say that pilots need to go elsewhere to
hone their most important capacities.
Accident report analysis reveals many instances of inappropriately
high denial - refusal to admit the onset of risk. Presumably, anxiety
for personal safety plays a role here. 'I don't want to believe I am
in peril.' In the operating room, the onset of risk affects the
patient, does it not? not the surgical team. Are the 'practitioner's'
anxiety levels comparable? I don't know. At any rate, I am convinced
that people who have to deal with extremes of anxiety - and practise
their 'life-saving' skills while so afflicted - must train in
commensurately stressed environments so as to be able to demonstrate
their competence.
Jan raises the issue of regulation of professions. If surgeons are
operating seven days a week, or at high fatigue levels for other
reasons, that, to me, says something about the effectiveness of
regulation over professional practice. In most countries, regulation
of professional work is the concern of a trio - government, the
professional body, and the practitioner. In this country, the first
has had the major role in regulating aviation, and it's not been much
of a success (that's a Parliamentary Report's conclusion, not mine).
On the other hand, the recipe has been very effective for other
professions. They are models to emulate. Even so, the final member of
the trio - self-regulation - being clearly the last line of defence,
is my favourite. I am not thought to be a realistic person.
A second officer (relief pilot) recently told me of a trip, 'The
nightmare combination, two captains'.
These are thoughts Jan's response triggered in me. I'll be interested
in others'.
Regards
Doug