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HealthQuiet 40d · day 40

Advice columnist weighs age concerns in surgery: should 80-year-old ophthalmologist retire?

R. Eric Thomas addresses reader's dilemma about trusting an aging friend-physician with cataract surgery.

What to know

  • A reader has written to advice columnist R. Eric Thomas with a conflict between patient safety concerns and personal loyalty: their ophthalmologist friend, nearly 80, wants to perform cataract surgery on them.
  • The core dilemma is whether raising age-related fitness concerns with the physician will destroy a long friendship.
  • The column explores the intersection of medical competence, aging, professional responsibility, and interpersonal trust.

“I know that if I share my concern with him, it will end our friendship.”

Reader (unnamed), Patient and friend · MassLive

R. Eric ThomasR. Eric Thomas Advice columnistReader (unnamed) Patient and friendOphthalmologist friend (unnamed) Aging surgeon

The record 3 articles and posts · last 30 days

  1. Asking Eric: My 80-year-old doctor friend wants to do my cataract surgery, but I’m worried press · MassLive · R. Eric Thomas · 40d ago
  2. Asking Eric: How do I tell my ophthalmologist friend I don’t trust him to perform my surgery? press · AL.com · R. Eric Thomas · 40d ago
  3. Asking Eric: How old it too old when it comes to surgeons? press · Cleveland.com · R. Eric Thomas · 40d ago