Disclosure of Surgeon Experience.
Abstract
It is uncertain whether there is an ethical obligation to disclose surgical experience. This article explores the impact of principles including respect for patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, and justice, as well as professional duties including truth-telling on the decision-making relevant to the process of informed consent, taking into account surgeon experience, training, and the expected risk and uncertainty surrounding the disease process and operation. Issues such as the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship, difficulties with access to complex surgical services, and limitations in applying statistics to the future outcomes of individual surgeons are explored.
This paper has been withdrawn.