yes he did. but the mysteries that were revealed are what is relevant here. I dont think ethan's lack of many skills is a suprise to anyone.

Knowing how to do many things... that's called job security. A good way to get close to the man in charge, making yourself useful and trustworthy.

__________________

`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!'

-- Alice, from “Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland”

Well he didnt know how to stay alive, or how to lie his way into one of our camps, or how to treat a patient claire, how to take no for an answer... again claire.

even so, if you were a surgeon would you risk hurting your hands doing other jobs? That's job security. And ben has this tumor on his spine, and his "surgeon" is doing plumbing? and running of for god knows how long to survey the survivors of a plane crash? I don't buy it!

I'm not saying he was good at it, I'm just saying as a doctor he could possibly fix a pipe if living on a deserted island. Ethan might even be able to change a light bulb, make a noose, or bake some muffins. Either Henry didn't like him and that's why he sent him to report on the crash, or he trusted his skills and that's why he sent him.

__________________

`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!'

-- Alice, from “Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland”

We don't know when Ben was diagnosed with the tumor, do we?

__________________

`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!'

-- Alice, from “Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland”

shortly before the plane crash. he said it to jack.

also I think TOM would have done just fine for fixing pipes... were ethan a doctor... hes big and i am sure sports a butt crack like most plumbers...

but since ethan was not a real doctor... he can crawl under the house...

true, and I guess the operating room wasn't on the big island anyway. Maybe he was finding some way of keeping his hands busy.

Obviously whatever Ethan was he was not capable of saving Henry/Ben's life or he would already be taking care of it. Not working on the pipes or running espionage on the losties. I think it was just another manipulative detail spilled by the captain bunny killer to make Jack believe that their killing Ethan contributed to their desperate actions to get him.

I agree. I'm wondering if Jack beleived Ben when he told him Ethan was a surgeon, or thought he was full of crap, because he already met Ethan.