Surgery is medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into the body to repair, remove, or replace something. It can be minor, like removing a small lump, or major, like transplanting a heart.
From Old French 'cirurgie', from Late Latin 'chirurgia', from Greek 'kheirourgia' meaning 'hand-work'. It originally referred broadly to healing done with the hands, not just cutting.
Surgery used to be done without proper pain control, and many people feared it more than the disease. Modern anesthesia and sterile techniques turned surgery from a last resort into a routine lifesaver.
Discourse about surgery has sometimes reflected gender bias, such as pathologizing women’s bodies or prioritizing certain procedures (e.g., cosmetic surgery) in gender-stereotyped ways. Access to surgical care has also been uneven across genders and identities.
Use precise, non-judgmental language for all types of surgery, including reproductive and gender-affirming procedures; avoid implying some patients or procedures are less legitimate.
["operation","surgical procedure"]
When discussing surgical history, note women surgeons and patients whose experiences shaped standards of care but were often under-documented.
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