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Leslie Harold Blumgart was the surgeon behind making Hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery a speciality and his recent demise will always leave a void in that field. He was the person who classified anatomical variations in the biliary tract and devised a special anastomotic technique to decrease the rate of postoperative pancreatic duct fistula after Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy. His contribution in managing hepatobiliary oncology cases with chemotherapy and radiotherapy was also significant. No wonder, he was designated as the "living legend" by the International Hepatopancreaticobiliary Association., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© Association of Surgeons of India 2022.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed consent has become a challenging issue when surgery at the time of novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is to be performed, in view of increased risk of the need of intensive care unit (ICU) in the post-operative period and the associated high mortality if a patient exhibits COVID-19 symptoms in the post-operative period. We have devised a new informed consent format for all patients undergoing surgery incorporating a few points specific for the disease., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Association of Surgeons of India 2020.)

Surgery as a speciality has reached an advanced refinement today both in terms of teaching and technique. With knowledge gained from years of research, teaching is now evidence-based. With the illuminating, pioneering work of a few great former surgeons, the technique of even complex surgical procedures has been well elucidated now. John Benjamin Murphy is one such surgeon to whom the speciality of surgery would remain perpetually indebted. His landmark achievements not only in gastroenterology but also in urology, orthopaedics, oncoplastic and vascular surgery would leave even a hard-core critic marvelling at his genius. Above all, Murphy was a dedicated teacher who spent 4 days a week demonstrating procedures and lecturing interested surgeons. Herein lies the greatness of the man and a tribute highlighting his achievements are in order.