Navigating Medical Humility

Forty years later, I can still see his eyes. At that time it was clear I had made an error.

Forty years later, I can still see his eyes. I was an anesthesia resident, managing what should have been a routine case, when I reached for what I thought was the maintenance IV fluid and instead grabbed a bag containing neuromuscular blocking agents. Within moments, my patient was awake but completely paralyzed—conscious but unable to move or speak. T…