“I feel like I’m still human.” Kypros Nicolaides says it, staring at the camera; perhaps as a way to counteract prejudices about insensitive medicine and anesthesia by miles of procedures that end up becoming routine. The man, born in Cyprus, specializes in fetal medicine. And it is known worldwide for laser surgery as a method to treat fetal transfusion syndrome.
His story and that of some of his patients are part of Scalpel handles, which bears the label of Netflix and the BBC studios. To say that the documentary series – four one-hour episodes – explores the lives of doctors is insufficient. Over the course of almost two hours, seeks to understand the personality of these pioneers in their areas. He does this from interviews in and out of hospitals and from meeting his patients.
Nicolaides speaks in a compassionate tone and seems to understand the feelings of the couples who approach her consultation. The profile of doctors varies throughout the episodes.
Handles of the Scalpel, the Netflix documentary series, features four one-hour chapters.
The Mexican based in Florida (USA), Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, embodies the history of the American dream. Specialist in “the unknown frontier of the brain”, cómo went from agricultural worker to Harvard University in just seven years. The camera accompanies him to his hometown in Mexico. And he makes some analogies – somewhat forced – between those struggles of immigrants and these against the diseases of their patients. “I feel that tumors are supernatural killers,” he said.
Specialist in liver transplants, Nancy Ascher counts for her fondness for horror films, the story of her family obsessed with women’s knowledge and challenge in a masculine environment. He speaks with fascination to the liver. And he marvels at the practice of surgery, while the images show part of the procedure he performs with his team. “It simply came to our notice then. It is something close to perfection. As if it were a symphony. Something beautiful ”, he defines it, much more distant and less warm than his colleague from Cyprus.
Finally, Indian heart surgeon Devi Shetty tells his patients that “everything will be fine by the grace of God.” Y he is proud to say that in the last twenty years he has not rejected a single patient for economic reasons in a poor country like India. Many consider him, of course, a deity.
The narration of the episodes, heads by different directors, is clear and precise in the description of procedures up to complex as innovative. But his main success is not that but to go beyond medicine. The interviews lead to surgery – at least to such complex practices – in the art category, which combines intellectual achievement with technical aptitude. The Mexican speaks of the mystical character of his practice. The Indian reveals a “secret language” between the heart and the cardiovascular surgeon. Ascher comparison with classical music. And they all reveal personalities as peculiar as those of any creator, beyond the stress, responsibility, and other issues inherent in the psychology of the surgeon.
Scalpel handles. The Netflix documentary series.
In the year of the pandemic and the balcony plan to health personnel, it is worth giving this documentary series a chance. A production that goes beyond highlighting the effort and is encouraged to play with the creative possibilities of non-fiction.
Because yes?
Scalpel handles it carries out the work of the surgeons in the artistic plan and the sale of the common places on the profession.
File
Rating: Good.
Genre: documentary. Protagonists: Kypros Nicolaides, Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, Devi Shetty and Nancy Ascher. Creator: Brendan McGinty. Broadcast: Netflix. Duration: four one-hour episodes.
WD
