You Have to Get Body Parts Removed Just to Work in Antarctica
Working in Antarctica comes with risks most people never imagine. Because brutal winters make evacuation impossible for months, anyone heading to the most remote research stations must first have their appendix and, in some cases, wisdom teeth removed. These precautions prevent medical emergencies that doctors couldn’t treat until the next flight arrives.
A Workplace Beyond Normal Distance
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In Antarctica, several stations become completely unreachable for months due to darkness, thick ice, and storms strong enough to stop all evacuation options.
Medical planning adjusts to these limits. Dental infections and appendicitis progress fast and require quick treatment in ordinary settings. In Antarctica, delays stretch long enough to turn both into serious risks, which is why certain roles require preventive surgery before deployment.
Some workers are required to remove high-risk wisdom teeth. Fewer undergo appendectomy. Requirements depend on the national program and the planned length of stay.
How Nations Built This Rule
Every country that maintains Antarctic operations establishes its own medical standards, which are based on staffing levels, access issues, and evacuation limitations.
Villa Las Estrellas on King George Island hosts families for long stays. Advanced surgical care is unavailable, and winter evacuation cannot be guaranteed, so Chile requires long-term residents to remove their appendix before moving there.
Australia directs wintering doctors to undergo appendectomy before they travel. Only one doctor remains on base during winter, so a medical emergency involving that individual would leave the station without proper care.
The United States performs extensive medical reviews. Appendectomy is not universal. Workers with wisdom teeth that pose a high risk of future complications must have them removed before deployment, as dental infections can progress rapidly in isolated regions. Many keep their appendix, and some keep their teeth if the medical staff approves it.
Across programs, the purpose remains to prevent emergencies during periods with no evacuation access.
The Famous Case That Influenced Policy
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In 1961, Soviet surgeon Leonid Rogozov developed appendicitis at Novolazarevskaya Station. The weather grounded all flights, and the nearest ship was months away.
With no access to another surgeon, he carried out his own appendectomy while two colleagues assisted by holding lights and passing instruments. The operation lasted about two hours, and he recovered within two weeks.
The event remains one of the most well-known medical incidents in Antarctic history and continues to influence risk assessments to this day.
Once stationed there, the reasoning behind the requirements becomes obvious.
Why Tourists Don’t Follow These Rules
Because tourists stay briefly and never through winter, they are not subject to the preventive surgical rules used for long-term staff.
Visitors arrive during the austral summer, when travel schedules remain open and ships have access. Evacuation is possible, onboard medical teams handle common issues, and insurance covers emergencies.
The requirements for workers may seem severe, but they stem from documented incidents and logistical limits. People who choose to work there accept this step as part of the commitment gain access to a rare environment.