diff --git a/baystation12.dme b/baystation12.dme
index f1bce8e78d..e02f3589e7 100644
--- a/baystation12.dme
+++ b/baystation12.dme
@@ -1305,6 +1305,7 @@
 #include "code\modules\security levels\security levels.dm"
 #include "code\WorkInProgress\buildmode.dm"
 #include "code\WorkInProgress\explosion_particles.dm"
+#include "code\WorkInProgress\surgery.dm"
 #include "code\WorkInProgress\Cael_Aislinn\energy_field.dm"
 #include "code\WorkInProgress\Cael_Aislinn\external_shield_gen.dm"
 #include "code\WorkInProgress\Cael_Aislinn\meteor_battery.dm"
diff --git a/code/WorkInProgress/surgery.dm b/code/WorkInProgress/surgery.dm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5e119f2186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/WorkInProgress/surgery.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/datum/surgery_step
+	// type path referencing the required tool for this step
+	var/required_tool = null
+
+	// When multiple steps can be applied with the current tool etc., choose the one with higher priority
+
+	// checks whether this step can be applied with the given user and target
+	proc/can_use(mob/user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		return 0
+
+	// does stuff to begin the step, usually just printing messages
+	proc/begin_step(user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		return
+
+	// does stuff to end the step, which is normally print a message + do whatever this step changes
+	proc/end_step(user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		return
+
+	// stuff that happens when the step fails
+	proc/fail_step(user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		return null
+
+	// duration of the step
+	var/min_duration = 0
+	var/max_duration = 0
+
+	// evil infection stuff that will make everyone hate me
+	var/can_infect = 0
+
+/datum/surgery_step/cut_open_abdomen
+	required_tool = /obj/item/weapon/scalpel
+
+	can_use(mob/user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		return target_zone == "groin"
+
+	begin_step(mob/user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		user.visible_message("[user] starts cutting open [target]'s abdomen with \the [tool]", "You start cutting open [user] with \the [tool]")
+
+	end_step(mob/user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		var/datum/organ/external/groin = target.get_organ("groin")
+		groin.open = 1
+
+/datum/surgery_step/remove_appendix
+	required_tool = /obj/item/weapon/scalpel
+
+	can_use(mob/user, mob/living/carbon/human/target, target_zone, obj/item/tool)
+		var/datum/organ/external/groin = target.get_organ("groin")
+		return target_zone == "groin" && groin.open
+
+// Build this list by iterating over all typesof(/datum/surgery_step) and sorting the results by priority
+var/global/list/surgery_steps = null
+
+proc/build_surgery_steps_list()
+	surgery_steps = list()
+	for(var/T in typesof(/datum/surgery_step)-/datum/surgery_step)
+		var/datum/surgery_step/S = new T
+		surgery_steps += S
+
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items.dm b/code/game/objects/items.dm
index dc436d29df..e68e62ba5f 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items.dm
@@ -179,6 +179,29 @@
 
 	if (!istype(M)) // not sure if this is the right thing...
 		return
+
+	//if(istype(M) &&((locate(/obj/machinery/optable, M.loc) && M.resting) || (locate(/obj/structure/table/, M.loc) && (M.lying || M.weakened || M.stunned || M.paralysis || M.sleeping || M.stat) && prob(50))))
+	if(istype(M,/mob/living/carbon))
+		if (user.a_intent == "help")
+			if(surgery_steps == null) build_surgery_steps_list()
+			for(var/datum/surgery_step/S in surgery_steps)
+				var/have_correct_tool = 0
+				if(istype(S.required_tool, /list))
+					for(var/T in S.required_tool) if(istype(src, T))
+						have_correct_tool = 1
+						break
+				else
+					have_correct_tool = (istype(src, S.required_tool))
+				if(!have_correct_tool) continue
+				if(S.can_use(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, src))
+					S.begin_step(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, src)
+					if(do_mob(user, M, rand(S.min_duration, S.max_duration)))
+						S.end_step(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, src)
+					else
+						S.fail_step(user, M, user.zone_sel.selecting, src)
+					return		  //don't want to do weapony things after surgery
+
+
 	var/messagesource = M
 
 	if (istype(M,/mob/living/carbon/brain))