Summary of "The Tucker Carlson Show" Episode featuring Dr. Michael K. Smith
Release Date: February 28, 2025
Episode Title: Dr. Richard Bosshardt Reveals Deadly Truth: Most Surgeons Aren’t Fit to Practice. Here’s Why.
Introduction
In this compelling episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, host Tucker Carlson engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Michael K. Smith, a seasoned plastic surgeon with over 38 years of experience. Dr. Smith delves into alarming revelations about the current state of surgical practice and training in America, particularly focusing on the influence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
1. Conflict with the American College of Surgeons (ACS)
Dr. Smith begins by recounting his longstanding relationship with the ACS, an organization he joined intending to uphold surgical excellence over three decades. However, his stance began to clash with the organization’s shifting priorities around 2018-2019.
Notable Quote:
[00:02] Tucker Carlson: "So let me ask you, 2022 became famous for a day or two because you got into it with the American College of Surgeons. I'm still into it with them, yes. You're still into it. It's approaching, it's approaching its third year."
2. DEI Initiatives and Racial Concordance
Dr. Smith highlights the ACS's embrace of DEI initiatives post the George Floyd incident, emphasizing the concept of "racial concordance," which posits that patients receive better surgical outcomes when operated on by surgeons of the same race. He critically examines this notion, arguing it lacks scientific backing and inadvertently reinstates segregationist ideologies within surgery.
Notable Quote:
[04:40] Dr. Smith: "The ACS has explicitly stated that blacks would do better if their surgeon is black. As simple as that. It's a racial concordance that you are going to receive better care by a doctor, surgeon, or other doctor if they are of your same race, ethnicity, gender."
3. The ACS Ban and Lack of Due Process
After voicing his concerns publicly and within ACS forums, Dr. Smith faced severe repercussions, including being permanently banned from ACS communities and member directories without any formal investigation or opportunity for a hearing. He underscores the lack of transparency and adherence to ACS bylaws in enforcing this ban.
Notable Quote:
[16:00] Dr. Smith: "They feel that you have received due process. Well, the channels are there's a fixed process for disciplining a surgeon. They never did that. They never informed me that I was being investigated for a possible lifetime ban."
4. Lowering Standards in Surgery: Examples and Consequences
Dr. Smith provides firsthand accounts of declining surgical competencies, citing instances where newly trained surgeons displayed subpar skills, such as improperly closing abdominal walls or never performing essential procedures like axillary node dissections. He argues that DEI initiatives distract from maintaining high surgical standards, ultimately jeopardizing patient safety.
Notable Quote:
[26:13] Dr. Smith: "If a person is doing this in such a simple situation, such as closing an abdominal wall, then you got to wonder what he's like. And I've worked with other surgeons that were so bad that, you know, you often have to ask yourself, is it something that I report?"
5. Medical Training and Residency Hour Limitations
Dr. Smith criticizes the 2003 nationwide reduction in residency hours, which he believes has contributed to inadequate surgical training. He contends that limiting work hours did not significantly reduce medical errors but instead curtailed the intensive, hands-on experience necessary for developing surgical excellence.
Notable Quote:
[30:21] Dr. Smith: "They took the medical licensing examination, the three-part medical license examination, from a graded exam to a pass/fail. To pass it, you only have to be above the bottom 5%."
6. Broader Implications: COVID Policies and Gender-Affirming Care
The conversation extends to the impact of COVID-19 policies on trust in the medical profession and critiques gender-affirming surgeries, particularly on minors. Dr. Smith equates certain modern medical practices with "witchcraft," emphasizing his belief that some current medical trends lack scientific foundation and erode trust between patients and physicians.
Notable Quote:
[60:00] Dr. Smith: "And the other issue, I don't want to open a can of worms here, but the gender-affirming care... that is witchcraft and voodoo, and all the scientific evidence is against it."
7. Call to Action and Conclusion
Dr. Smith passionately calls for the removal of DEI initiatives from medicine, reinstatement of rigorous standards, and a return to evidence-based, excellence-driven surgical practice. He warns of a generational decline in surgical competence if current trends persist and urges fellow surgeons to uphold the highest standards to ensure patient safety.
Notable Quote:
[72:43] Tucker Carlson: "You have to trust one flows from the other."
[72:45] Dr. Smith: "Anything which works against that, you have to fight. I think you have to work against that. It's, it's disconcerting to me."
Conclusion
This episode sheds light on Dr. Michael K. Smith’s critical perspective on the interplay between DEI initiatives and surgical excellence within the American College of Surgeons. His testimonies underscore a perceived conflict between ideological mandates and the foundational principles of medicine, raising urgent questions about the future of surgical training and patient care in the United States.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Michael K. Smith challenges the ACS’s DEI initiatives, particularly the concept of racial concordance, citing lack of scientific evidence.
- He details his personal conflict with ACS leadership, resulting in a lifetime ban without due process.
- Examples of declining surgical standards are provided, highlighting potential risks to patient safety.
- Criticism extends to changes in medical training, residency hour restrictions, and broader medical policies influenced by ideology over evidence-based practice.
- Dr. Smith calls for a return to excellence in medical training and practice, emphasizing the paramount importance of patient trust and safety.
Note: Throughout the conversation, commercial segments were skipped as per the summary guidelines, focusing solely on the substantive content between Tucker Carlson and Dr. Michael K. Smith.