Page 157 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2015

Winged Scalpel

A Surgeon at the Frontline of Disaster

Villar, Richard. Winged Scalpel. A Surgeon at the Frontline of Disaster.
Barnsley, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom: Pen and Sword Book Limited; 2013.
Hardcover, 224 pages. ISBN-10: 1781591687 ; ISBN-13: 978-1781591680.

Review by COL (Ret) Warner “Rocky” D. Farr, MD, MPH

n Winged Scalpel, Richard Villar, a respected English He presents a very realistic guide to a fast-paced var-
Iorthopedic surgeon, describes his second career. Ear- ied life that few understand. The author describes what
lier, he was the Special Air Service Regimental Surgeon happens on the ground before a full aid program swings
and wrote a book detailing his SAS adventures, titled into action. He describes all the necessary actions and
“Knife Edge: Life as a Special Forces Surgeon,” which plans developed by all those behind the scenes people
I plan to obtain and review soon. who support the surgeons and other medical providers.
This book, his second, considers He does an excellent job of being inclusive as he de-
his life after the SAS as he partici- scribes and praises the work of those who when arriving
pates in worldwide natural disaster in a stricken area with a infrastructure destroyed, take
medicine events and one war. The nothing for granted and must deal with lacks of water,
book is a persuasive read, holds power, shelter, and the rule of law. He describes how
one’s attention, and is difficult to they must fight shortages of everything while trying to
put down. provide care. Villar succeeds well in giving credit where
credit is due. His inclusive teamwork study makes the
Villar discusses in detail his in- book both instructional and informative.
sights into the problems of admin-
istering aid to disaster areas. He spans the process from As the author states, “You can take a man out of the
dealing with difficult local situations on the ground to SAS, but you cannot take the SAS out of the man.” His
the emotional toll on people who carry out such work. SAS time clearly was useful for his follow-on career. I
It has a fast pace without being sensationalistic. The recommend this book as an excellent read for medical
author provides his personal insights into the difficul- personnel, especially those with an interest in interna-
ties, dangers, and risks of providing medical aid to tional aid work. This story of what goes on behind the
disaster areas and war zones. He shares his consider- scenes when disasters and other crises hit the world
able experiences obtained in the wake of three natural is fascinating. You will never take aid workers lightly
disasters—major earthquakes: Kashmir (in 2005), Java again. The author draws a wonderful portrait of the or-
(in 2006), and Haiti (in 2010). He also was involved ganizational complexity, the human toll on all the par-
in, and writes of, his involvement the Libyan civil war ticipants, and the sheer bravery that are part of the race
(in 2011). to rush to help humans in severe circumstances.

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