Burton 1

Madison Burton

24 September 2023

English 120

A Surgeon's Life

It stood out to me how Dr. Oliver Sacks spoke of the “double-vision” Dr. Carl Bennett

had where he studied those with Tourette’s while also having it himself. I wonder how this would

feel- viewing and studying something such as Tourette’s from an outside perspective while

experiencing it yourself.

Additionally, it stood out that Dr. Bennett did not experience any impulses while

operating as a surgeon- I did not know that this was possible and it is quite interesting,

particularly as after the surgery, Dr. Bennett experienced a seemingly heightened amount of

physical impulses yet was not consciously suppressing them during the operation itself. I would

like to learn more about this as well as about how the triggers for specific tics are “all a question

of space” in terms of where the individual is located, one of the examples being to touch a brick

wall if it is within reach.

The reading reminded me of when I have flown small planes and made me think about

how stressful it would be if I also had Tourette’s and had to learn how to fly while also

experiencing uncontrollable movements- especially when flying nearly completely upside-down,

all of which is already dangerous enough.