Elon Musk had a lot of fun recently, brandishing a chainsaw, symbolizing his approach to slashing government waste, fraud and abuse.

A few days later he changed his tune, saying that the Department of Government Efficiency was instead applying a scalpel to governmental agencies.

As a retired surgeon, I would like to expand on that concept. Before a surgeon picks up or is handed a scalpel, he or she has already taken a history and done a physical exam, conferred with anesthesia, spent a “time out” moment with the operating room team, checking on the identity of the patient and confirming which side of the body — i.e., which breast or hip or ankle — will be operated on.

During the procedure, he or she will stay in tune with the crew, discussing the findings and dealing with any complications. Afterward, there is the matter of post-op orders and follow-up.

It seems to me that “Dr.” Musk is not operating like a skillful and thoughtful surgeon. Pre-op conditions be damned. Consequences of this or that incision not important. Complications — so what? Surgical malpractice for sure.

Ironically, it was a Maine physician who first described the treatment of chainsaw injuries in the surgical literature. Dr. Loring Pratt went on to become a regent of the American College of Surgeons and the first president of the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.

Edward Walworth
Lewiston