I think some of this thread has gone way off topic, and some of the analogies have been taken a little too literally. So I'm simply going to hopefully provide a little "advice" based on my years of experience.
FootDoc,
Podfather and I have been around for quite a while and have both been intimately involved with the training of residents and have been very actively politically within the various organizations in our profession such as the ABPS, ACFAS, etc. As a result, we've "been there, done that" and although I can't completely speak for Podfather, I've made more than my share of mistakes along the way, and attempt to pass those along to the residents I encounter to hopefully assure they won't repeat my errors.
I've also witnessed just about every type of personality imaginable in residents, students and attendings.
Please take what I say as simple advice and not as criticism. Read what I write and then simply decide whether you believe my comments or valid, and you can choose to utilize or discard my "advice".
I am more than confident that you are very bright and very well trained. Now you are extremely proud to be an "attending" and even prouder to have the ability and prestige to be an "attending" at the same facility where you trained.
During your training you may have witnessed attendings book cases and not scrub in, since the resident was more than competent enough to perform the case(s). And now that you are an attending, it's definitely an ego boost to be in that same situation.
PLEASE, PLEASE re-think that entire concept. Have all the confidence in any resident you want, and use your own judgement on how much or little you will allow a resident to perform in a given surgical case. But do NOT make the mistake of "watching from the sidelines" and not scrubbing in on the case. There is no right time, but especially this early in your career.
As a new attending, you should want to have your hands in every case. You can give me every excuse or reason in the world, but there is absolutely NO rational reason why you can justify not scrubbing in on a case. NONE And if this case ever lands in a courtroom, you might as well just hand over a check.
I stated it in my prior post and Podfather stated it in his post. I've been an expert witness more than once in this type of case, and it gets UGLY. The doctor does not come off looking very good when he/she is on the stand and the attorney is quizzing you why you didn't scrub. The jury will be wondering why this young, "rich" (they always think you're rich) doctor was too "lazy" to scrub on the case. No matter WHAT you say, the attorney will tear you apart and the jury will just keep thinking that the "poor" patient trusted YOU and you didn't even have the decency to put on a pair of gloves, etc.,etc.
So please don't worry about what the other doctors did, or what other departments do, worry about yourself and start setting new standards for future residents. Allow your residents to go skin to skin if that's what you desire, but be there all scrubbed in next to them, even if it's just for the show. And in the remote chance a resident may actually need your expertise, it's nice to know you're ready and able.
Just a little "fatherly" advice.