Beyond anger: a surgeon’s reflection when empathy became the strongest surgical tool

Empathy is often described as a desirable attribute in medical practice, yet it is rarely examined as a core clinical competency, particularly in surgery. This reflective article describes a formative encounter early in a surgical career, in which a distressed postoperative patient spat at the author during a ward round. Rather than responding with anger or reprimand, the situation was met with calmness and compassion, transforming a potentially confrontational moment into one of human connection and healing. Revisited years later through contemplative practice, the incident highlights the role of emotional regulation, empathy, and perspective-taking in managing challenging clinical interactions. This reflection argues that technical expertise alone is insufficient for high-quality surgical care and that empathy should be actively taught, practiced, and valued as an essential component of surgical professionalism. Compassion, when consciously applied, can heal psychological suffering and strengthen trust between patients and clinicians.