Radiology is a tough and challenging profession, but it can also be a source of immense fun and laughter, according to Dr. Paul McCoubrie, consultant radiologist in Bristol, U.K., and regular columnist on AuntMinnieEurope.com.
Light-hearted cartoons and comedy are an essential part of his new book, More Rules of Radiology. We published five cartoons in December 2024, and below are five more for you to enjoy. The text below each cartoon explains which of the 100 rules of radiology they illustrate. The illustrations are by John Charlesworth, and all figures are courtesy of Dr. Paul McCoubrie and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
Rule 89: Eminence Doesn't Equal Sense. The reputation of being wise can be lost as well as won. Of course, a wise or pseudo-wise radiologist doesn't want to fall off their revered pedestal. I was once told the trick is "Never retract, never explain, and never apologise." After all, the right sort of people do not want apologies and the wrong sort of people take advantage of them. But there is the risk of coming across as an unfeeling and ungracious monster.
Rule 90: Sloppiness Is Infectious. Never collaborate with those pushing a substandard agenda. They should be thwarted by all means. This includes not posing for photos with or shaking the hands of politicians directly responsible for their workplace misery. Aiding and abetting a colleague with poor standards is off limits too. Maintaining intolerance is paramount. You can be a kind person with a good heart and still tell people to f**k off when needed.
Rule 91: Never Assume Relationships. Don't ever assume anything about a person accompanying a patient. I've asked, "Is this your daughter?" ... it was their son. I've asked, "Is this your wife?" ... it was their daughter. It's worse than awkward: I just wanted the ground to swallow me up. It also ruins any patient rapport before you've even got started. Avoid foot-in-mouth disease -- always ask.
Rule 96: Embrace Productivity. Software should open in seconds and be intuitive. After finishing one study, the next should appear in a couple of seconds. Every second of blank screen is lost productivity. Commonly used commands should be a single mouse click or keystroke away. Password issues lead to significant lost productivity -- security via biometrics is far better.
Rule 97: Be a Kind Boss. Most of the time, leadership just entails getting out of the way and letting people do what they are best at, without micromanaging them. Leadership is nudging people subtly so that what they want aligns with what the leader needs them to do. This leader is like a shepherd, staying behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, no one realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.
More Rules of Radiology is available via its publisher Springer and also local bookstores (ISBN-13 978-3031640933).
