A surgeon's assistant, also known as a surgical assistant, assistant in surgery or first assistant, is a healthcare professional who provides direct manual and/or instrumental assistance to meet the in-procedure demands of a surgeon during a surgical operation. Most surgical assistants are trainee surgeons or junior doctors, but In the United Kingdom, a surgical care practitioner, who is not a qualified doctor, may perform simple surgical operations under the supervision of one.
In the United States, the American College of Surgeons supports the concept that, ideally, the first assistant at the operating table should be a qualified surgeon or a resident in an approved surgical training program. Residents who have appropriate levels of training should be provided with opportunities to assis...
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A nurse and a surgeon, both wearing gown and mask. Etching b Wellcome L0028811.jpg
A nurse and a surgeon, both wearing gown and mask. Etching by H.A. Freeth.
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