left handed doctors

**Hannah123** · 25-02-2007, 07:45 AM

hi i am going to be starting medicine at HYMS in September...and I'm left handed! I was wondering if there are any other left handed medical students, and how they have coped with surgery etc? I find using knives, scissors etc a bit annoying...wondered if there are left handed surgical tools that they provide for left handers? or do we just have to muddle our way through with right handed tools?

suppose this is a bit of a random post, but just a little curious...

Hannah

**S Knights** · 25-02-2007, 05:37 PM

As a rule most surgical equipment can be used with both hands... I think it is an intentional part of their construction. The biggest problem that faces us left handed folk is the fact that you always examine patients from the right side of the bed - and if you hold your stethoscope with your left hand, or prefer to feel & move things with your left hand it does make you look a little ungainly (whenever I start a new firm at least one consultant usually tells me that I look awkward when examining patients). The most irritating thing is that there's actually no need to do everything from the right, it's just one of those little traditions which we can't get rid of...

Anyway, being left handed won't be a hindrance, you just might need to develop the ability to do some things with your right hand too (if only so you look "slick" when you are in a practical exam!)

**auden** · 25-02-2007, 06:35 PM

there are upsides though - the one thing you'll probably find easier is phlebotomy on those plastic arm thingies which are always set up so there is nothing to your left to put your equipment on, meaning you're trying to insert the needle with your left hand so you can grab vacutainer bottles with your right....

JH · 25-02-2007, 08:10 PM

I'm slowly becoming left handed....been practicing to write with my left hand. Can I join this super fantastically cool club then?

**brismed05** · 25-02-2007, 08:23 PM

why are ypou trying to be left handed?

**Hannah123** · 25-02-2007, 10:22 PM

thanks everyone, it's a relief to know that left handers don't feel like they're at a disadvantage! i guess left handers tend to be quite ambidextrous...so maybe it's a good thing in a way!

**simisims** · 25-02-2007, 11:14 PM

Lol Im a leftie too!
Im glad Hannah bought this up!

**ajwatson2020** · 25-02-2007, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by simisims

Lol Im a leftie too!
Im glad Hannah bought this up!

I'm left handed too! I must admit in our clinical skills sessions the whole standing on the right hand side of a patient thing can get a bit awkward!

**Spencer Wells** · 26-02-2007, 12:07 AM

I'm a lefty and the only thing that I find a little difficult is in unfastening clamps in theatre (e.g. haemostats, needle holders) which are made for right handers. It's actually been beneficial in some situations, where I've been able to assist/sew patients up without having to go round to the other side of the table, which prevents overcrowding. When it comes to approaching patients from their right, I've just learned to use my right hand for certain things (holding stethoscope, palpating the apex etc.)