This column is the latest article in the ongoing series “I wish I hadn’t done that.” Past submissions can be read here.
It was the greatest pediatric ophthalmologist I ever met, Dr. Marty Cogen, who taught me about “The Four Stages” of ophthalmic surgical grief.
These apply to surgical screw-ups and represent the psychological states of mind one passes through while coming to grips with the mistake.
Stage 1: Denial. “That did not just happen.”
Stage 2: Conspiracy. “OK, that happened, but no one saw it but me.”
Stage 3: Complacency. “All