This is not uncommon although many of the chosen doctors insist to the
patient that they really are going to do the surgery.  I believe all
teaching hospitals require patients sign a form stating that they (the
patients) are aware this is a teaching facility and that some of the
procedures will be performed by doctors in training under the
supervision --- etc., etc..  While we all want the best treatment which
off the top of our heads can only come from the best, most experienced
people, new doctors have to learn somewhere and rubber dummies and dogs
won't do it.  We haven't sunk so low morally that the interns only work
on (practice on) the indigent.  I believe that for the most part, the
large teaching hospitals have better track records than the
non-teaching facilities and I wouldn't hesitate one second to go to
Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UCSF, or any of the other major teaching
facilities.  On the other hand, there is a saying in medical schools
which goes, "See one, do one, teach one".  This, fortunately, applies
to less major procedures such as lumbar punctures, not prostate
surgery.
Dave Perry

My surgery was done at a teaching hospital and a resident did assist in
the surgery, but I am quite confident that all important steps in the
surgery were done by my surgeon.   He told me he would do it, and I have
faith in his word.  Also, from things that the surgeon said to me and to
my wife and things the resident said to me in the hospital, it was
pretty clear the resident didn't do the crucial parts of the surgery.  I
wouldn't be surprised, however, if he did some of the routine aspects,
such as closing.

It is pretty common in teaching hospitals for most of the hospital
contact outside of the surgery itself to be with the resident.  That
doesn't mean that the resident actually did the surgery.  I'm sure that
happens in some teaching hospitals, but you shouldn't assume it as a
matter of course.

<snip>
In my 2 cases of surgery, my Senior Consultant Uro used the cutlery!
The Registrars, Residents and Students were all onlookers.
I even chatted to the Consultant DURING my last surgery under a mild
Spinal Anaesthesia.

However the Registrars, Residents and their entourage did the ward
calls to determine how quickly they could kick me out to free up a
bed!

 
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My husband had his rad-onc do the brachy along with the rad-onc's head
(#1)resident. I asked the resident just how much he was going to do. He sort
of laughed and said if he was lucky he'd get to insert a few extra seeds.
Hubby was scheduled for 117 seeds and received 121. I figure the resident
had the opportunity to place those 4 extra seeds. I do know that the
resident prepared the seed "tubes" for placement. Remember these residents
are doctors who have decided to put in more time into a specialty so that
when they leave they can do what that doctor does. Theoretically they
already know how to do it. It's really no different than a young CPA or
lawyer going to work for a big firm for a few years before opening his own
office.
Bev