Radiology is an extremely stressful and mentally demanding profession, but it can also be a great source of laughter and wit, according to Dr. Paul McCoubrie, consultant radiologist in Bristol, U.K., and regular columnist on AuntMinnieEurope.com.
Light-hearted cartoons and humor are an integral part of More Rules of Radiology, in which he educates, guides, and amuses his readers while telling us the essential stuff that's often said in private conversation among ourselves but rarely committed to print.
We published four cartoons in the review of this new book by Prof. Adrian Brady, and below are five more for you to enjoy. The text below each cartoon explains which rule of radiology they illustrate. We'll post another set of five cartoons early in the New Year. The illustrations are by John Charlesworth, and all figures are courtesy of Dr. Paul McCoubrie, and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
Rule 52: Don't Rush a Report. Very experienced radiologists are like a swimming swan; dignified, deliberate, and dispassionate. All the toil, knowledge, and clever tricks are hidden. You can't see that underneath the water, the feet are paddling furiously. This enviable composure allows a senior radiologist to be impervious to clinicians hassling for urgent reports. They turn to the clinician, smile serenely and, with a twinkle in their eye, say, "We'll report the scan as soon as we can". Any further questions are met with the same serenity, the same twinkle, and precisely the same answer.
Rule 68: Be a Holistic Radiologist. It's natural to want to pass on wisdom. It's what humans do and have long done. This is particularly true with hard-earned wisdom from experiences that are etched permanently into your soul. It could be a Stone Age hunter passing on tips about avoiding the pointy bits of a mammoth or a radiologist scarred from a particularly vexatious lawsuit. As a general rule, bad decisions make for good stories.
Rule 69: Radiology Is Extrapolating from a Screen Grab. Physical examination of ill people is undoubtedly older than the medical profession itself. Neolithic shamans must have ceremonially prodded their customers prior to, say, trepanning them. Although Hippocrates was keen on rigorous examination, it wasn't until 1761 that clinical examination moved into the modern age. Leopold Auenbrugger borrowed the idea of percussion from watching his innkeeper father tapping on wine casks to determine how full they were. This shows that critical medical advances can come about from lounging around in a pub.
Rule 84: Don't Criticise Colleagues. French philosopher Alain Finkielkraut wrote in Le Mécontemporain, "Barbarism is not the prehistory of humanity but the faithful shadow that accompanies its every step." The darker side of humanity is never far away. We forget how frequently and easily communities can revert to unacceptable behavior. It's a very clear argument against complacency. We must strive to improve the way we live and behave. This is just as vital at small scale as at large scale. A radiology department is no different from a whole country: Both can be upset by toxic idiots and/or a totalitarian despot.
Rule 87: Dress Smartly. Facial hair can be a quandary, an issue mainly (but not exclusively) concerning male radiologists. Many forms of facial fungus are available: It's more complex than a simple dichotomous clean shaven vs. bearded choice. It's also a surprisingly large field of psychological study. Evidence is varied and sometimes conflicting. Some patients love beards, some are pogonophobic. Some think stubble looks scruffy, but some think it's sexy. There is clearly no right answer here: Shave or don't shave; whatever goes. Though "monkey tails" are definitely verboten.
More Rules of Radiology is available via its publisher Springer and also local bookstores (ISBN-13 978-3031640933).
