Friday, August 29, 2008

Dr. Drill...Stat!


You go to Home Depot to buy hardware, paint and even a lawn mower. An eminent British neuro-surgeon decided to visit his local hardware store and buy a Bosch 9.6 volt battery operated hand tool to perform complex brain operations at a clinic in Ukraine. Dr. Marsh uses the drill to open the skulls of patients to remove life-threatening tumors. Sometimes the battery even goes flat 1/2 way through. There is a shortage of fully trained anesthesiologists so Marsh’s patients are given only a local anesthetic and are fully awake during the surgery. The Doc likes it that way so he can talk to his patients during the surgery to be sure he is not causing him permanent damage. People in the Ukraine are very "tough" and can withstand the drilling. I'm impressed because I need a sedative when I get my nails cut or ears cleaned at the vet.