THE ENGLISH SURGEON

Directed By: Geoffrey Smith

Review By Kim Jindra

If I am ever faced with the prospect of brain surgery, I hope I am lucky enough to have a doctor like London's Henry Marsh.  THE ENGLISH SURGEON by Geoffrey Smith chronicles Dr. Marsh's humanitarian efforts on one of his many trips to the Ukraine since 1992 when he met Ukrainian surgeon Igor Kurilets at a lecture.

Marsh, appalled at the condition of Ukrainian hospitals, was impressed with the valiant struggle of Kurilets to treat patients.   He said he couldn't have respected himself if he had simply returned home to London and forgot the Ukrainians, so he took up a one man campaign to assist Kurilets and together they've created a remarkable team. 

Marsh is more than a doctor.  He is a tool maker, carpenter, inventor and innovator.  He recycles and refurbishes medical equipment that is tossed in Britain's hospitals and takes it to the Ukraine.  He combines that with equipment, like drill bits, bought at Ukrainian street markets to make brain surgery viable for the average citizen.  He also sees and treats patients. 

Emily Dickinson must have had someone like Henry Marsh in mind when she wrote:

                                                108

                                     Surgeons must be very careful

                                     When they take the knife! 

                                     Underneath their fine incisions

                                     Stirs the Culprit - Life!

Marsh says the decision to operate is more difficult than the actual operation.  He agonizes over every patient he sees.   It is painful to watch him snatch the hope from a patient when he knows it is too late.  It is fascinating, but not for the squeamish, to watch Marsh and Kurilets perform a successful operation.  

THE ENGLISH SURGEON makes me thankful for hospitals here and hopeful that other doctors like Henry Marsh exist.