Best Kept Secrets of the OR #?- Like the Highlander, there can be only one

It’s okay if your Highlander point of reference is Henry Cavill reprising the role in 2026, Adrian Paul from the television show or Sean Connery from the 1986 movie. The only thing you need to know is that there can be only one.

But one what you ask?

In terms of the show and the movies, there can be only one immortal left after the “Gathering” and that immortal will be gifted all the powers of the other highlanders. You see the highlander can die, and often, but at the end there can be only one.

For a geek in the late 80s and 90s (hello, that’s me and countless others) there can be only one was a rallying cry.

But why only one immortal you ask?

I don’t make the rules.

This does handily shift the balance of favoritism in the operating room.

Favoritism in the operating room is where one person seems to be unable to do anything wrong. No matter what they do it, is explained away by management. No matter what they do in the operating room, it is explained away by the surgeons.

Kind of like rose colored glasses on the face of management. For one person.

They go home early every day? Well, duh, they have a family.

They put in the incorrect blood order on a hemorrhage patient? Well, the patient was getting other products and the bleeding stopped eventually.

They take extra long luxurious lunches, mostly off the clock? Well, duh, a body has to eat.

They have a posse that hangs on their every word and covers for their every against the rules action? Well, duh, a leader needs followers.

We all know or have known of the previous favorite.

We have picked up their slack, caught their mistakes, covered for their hour and half lunch.

The secret of the OR is that the role of the favorite changes over time.

Someone new and fun comes into the OR and all the favors transfer to them. The old favorite is dog meat now and is in the manager’s office for a “talk” about their lunches or a “talk” about their habit of going home early every day.

It is unpleasant to watch the tantrums of the old favorite that result.

But whatev.

Have you met the new favorite? They’re awesome and want to remake the entire OR to reflect where they came from? Sure says management, sure says the posse that has sucked up to the new favorite.

And the old favorite is left in the cold.

Because there can be only one.

My favorite Highlander? Sean Connery, of course.

Duh.