Ahh. "Trust me bro" science! No, no I don't think I will. I think I will trust the actual data.
> People having side effects and injuries from these drugs post-surgery are just told to "deal with it."
Well, generally once something has already occurred, yes, that is the reality. Just like with my damaged spinal cord. I now have to "deal with it" because you can't go backwards. Also "just deal with it" does not imply a lack of documentation that it occurred.
> but it still involves a great deal of risk
Yes, just not the level of risk claimed. In fact, not anywhere close in the modern age.
> especially when we put people fully under.
I've zero doubt. That said, I've had more generals than 99.9% of people ever will and i'm still alive and injury free so yay for modern medical science.
Disability or death are both incredibly rare side effects in modern usage and do not at all fit any pattern you could attach to the word “regular.”