It was a delicate procedure — removal of a salivary gland tumor close to the facial nerve.

 When the Surgeon Became the Patient

It was a delicate procedure — removal of a salivary gland tumor close to the facial nerve.

One wrong movement could mean permanent nerve damage.

Halfway through the operation, Dr. Oğuz Basut began to feel lightheaded. His blood pressure was falling. Reports later suggested food poisoning the previous day had weakened him.

He had options:

• Stop the surgery

• Hand over to another surgeon

• Or stabilize himself and continue

Stopping mid-procedure carries its own risks. Transitioning surgeons in such a precise moment can increase complication chances.

So he chose another solution.

Without breaking sterility, without stepping away, he asked colleagues to insert an IV line into his foot. Seated and supported, fluids began running.

The photo shows him on a surgical stool, focused, while an IV line extends from his foot.

The patient never left the table.

The operation was completed successfully.

Not About Heroism

When the image spread online, many called him a hero.

University officials expressed gratitude.

Dr. Basut responded simply:

“I’m not a hero. Any colleague would have done the same.”

That sentence may be the most powerful part of the story.

Because in medicine, dedication is rarely dramatic.

It is steady hands when exhausted.

It is focus when uncomfortable.

It is choosing responsibility over attention.