Much has been written about the tragic events in Boston on Monday, but I have to draw attention to a New Yorker piece detailing how the doctors and nurses at area hospitals leapt into action to treat victims' war-like injuries. Atul Gawande, MD, describes what happened at the hospitals that afternoon, and his take on why people there worked with such "grim efficiency"- and why, in turn, so many victims survived - is compelling:
...Something more significant occurred than professionals merely adhering to smart policies and procedures. What we saw unfold was the cultural legacy of the September 11th attacks and all that has followed in the decade-plus since. We are not innocents anymore.