shh....dont say anything

The other day I had a few conversations. The first was with a coworker, who agreed with myself and others that a pt with infected ovaries and uterine cysts, as seen by ultrasound & CT should be seen by a surgeon in the city. The second was with that pts doctor who when I asked if we were going to send the pt to a gynecologist, or for surgery in the city by a gyne surgeon briskly and close to rudely told me 'No,' finalizing that our older, rural surgeon was good enough for someone who might have real gyne problems. The third conversation was again with a coworker, who although agreed that our sugron might kill the pt, and that he might in fact be a sociopath, as floor nurses we basically cannot say anything to our patients that might hint at or encourage them to seek a second opinion. For if we did, it would likely come around to us, and our jobs would then become 'hell', as made by the surgeon. Even as a group it would be hard to speak up against this failing surgeon, we are not the OR nurses, and only hear second hand what happens in the OR, and see some patients come back from surgery sicker than when they left. I had looked into how to report a Dr for the wet floor sign incident but the patients family has to be made aware, as does the patient (if they are still alive) and you have to witness the incident first hand. Which is hard to do as floor nurses. My coworker also said that as floor nurses we arent the best ones who know the most about surgeries. Basically, for this older surgeons practices to be brought to the authorities it would have to be his peers doing it - the other doctors that go in the OR and even the OR nurses. And although I have heard other Drs complain about the surgeon, it doesnt seem as anything is happening. Patients with cancer have been opened up, and then closed, left to die without intervention. Tumors have been 'completely removed' and problems denied by the surgeon, only for the patient a year later to get to another Dr, and find it wasnt all removed, and a year of treatment had been denied for what, pride, ego? Surgeries that take an hour in the city have taken four or even eight. An artery cut accidentally. But, as these are only a combination of stories and second hand experiences, I cant say too much, it is just some of what I have seen and heard in my three years here. And to be honest I wouldnt be suprised if when and if I ever get enough information to speak up my job is negatively effected. Likely from my peers and doctors belonging to this old boys club not saying anything against the surgeon, and from the surgeon himself - he can be difficult to work with as is if he doesn't like you.