Neurosurgeon Confronts Mistakes, Mortality, and the Meaning of Medicine

In August 2025, renowned neurosurgeon Henry Marsh recounts a chance encounter that forced him to confront a past mistake. While cycling home from the hospital, Marsh ran into the mother of a patient he had treated 29 years ago, whose son Max had died after Marsh's unsuccessful surgery. Marsh had long carried the guilt of this failure, but the meeting with Max's mother allowed them both to find closure, with Marsh apologizing for his arrogance and error.

Marsh's own cancer diagnosis has also made him more empathetic as a patient, though he admits he was initially "scared stiff" by the news. Now 75 years old, Marsh has become an advocate for honesty in the medical profession, urging doctors to openly acknowledge their mistakes rather than hiding behind a facade of infallibility. He believes this transparency is crucial for improving patient care and the NHS.

Beyond the operating room, Marsh takes pride in the hospital gardens he fought to create, providing a healing respite for his patients. He remains convinced that medicine is a "wonderful profession" but cautions that doctors must know their limitations, ask for help, and resist the temptation to believe in their own certainty. Marsh's candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into the personal struggles and ethical dilemmas faced by even the most accomplished surgeons.