(I approach the family member of a patient we have just operated on.)

Me: “I just wanted to let you know he’s doing fine. We removed his gallbladder and everything went well. He’ll be able to go home today.”

Family member: “Will it grow back?”

Me: “Pardon?”

Family member: “Will it grow back? His gallbladder?”

Me: “No, it doesn’t quite work that way. We had to remove it because it was full of large gallstones that were causing him pain.”

(I show them the x-ray.)

Me: “See here. This is fat, and here’s the gallbladder and gallstones.

Family member: “How’d the fat get there?”

Me: “He…ate too much?”