The Ethics of Surgical Practice

"This book is a needed addition to the growing body of work focused on a particular specialty in healthcare. It will be an invaluable tool for surgeons and those involved in the formation of future surgeons, not only as technicians, but as those charged with upholding the virtues which engender the trust of their patients."--Doody's - a 5 star review!"Anyone who thinks the field of medical ethics is wishy-washy and fuzzy will be challenged by this book. The authors take on hard cases and give hard answers. The case format is perfect for discussion in academic centers and for residents as part of professional competency training. The book provides a thoughtful and interesting case-oriented approach to contemporary medical ethics in general."--New England Journal of Medicine"The beauty of this book is that it speaks in the language of surgeons as well as ethicists. The level of clinical detail in the cases allows each to hit the resident or practicing surgeon very close to him. The ethical analysis, while brief, shows a broad familiarity with the ethics literature. Furthermore, there are many references to episodes in surgical history, grounding the discourse in a historical context--a strategy endearing to the heart of everysurgeon....This collection of cases and analyses goes a long way in laying the foundation for a generation of surgeons who must cultivate the virtues necessary to care for the surgical patient."--Ethicsand Medicine

• Chapter 1: Introduction: A Primer on Surgical Ethics ; Chapter 2: Informed Consent and Disclosure: ; 1. Painted Into a Corner: Unexpected Complications in Treating a Jehovah's Witness ; 2. A Patient Refuses Consent for Life-Saving Surgery; ; 3. Consent for an Intraoperative Video Recording ; Chapter 3. Professional Self-Regulation: ; 11. What to Tell Patients Harmed by Other Physicians; ; 12. Eye-Witness to Incompetent Surgery; ; 13. Military Physician's Ethical Response to Evidence of Torture ; Chapter 4. Innovation and Research: ; 22. When Does Conventional Surgery Become Research? ; 23. A Surgeon's Obligation When Performing New Procedures ; 24. The Ethics of Innovative Approaches for Well-Established Procedures ; Chapter 5. Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment ; 33. Intentional Over-Treatment: The Unmentionable Conflict of Interest ; 34. Patient Responsibilities, Family Responsibilities; ; 35. Non-Financial Conflicts of Interest ; Chapter 6. The Ethics of Surgery as a Surgery: ; 44. Ethics of Physicians' Income; ; 45. Ethics of Personal Advertising in Surgery ; 46. Ethics of Institutional Marketing: The Role of Physicians ; Chapter 7. Medical Professionalism Challenges: Assaults from Within and Without ; 56. Going Public with Amazing Cases: Fiat or Fiasco?; ; 57. Unprofessional Behavior that Disrupts: Crossing the Line ; 58. My Brother's Keeper: Ethics of Uncompensated Care for Undocumented Immigrants ; Chapter 8. End-of-Life Issues ; 63. Futility and Surgical Intervention; ; 64. Advanced Age, Dementia, and an Abdominal Aneurysm: Intervene? ; 65. Complying with Advance Directives in the OR; ; 66. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a Death Row Inmate; ; 67. Telling the Truth About Terminal Diseases; ; 68. Arsenic and Old Lace: End of Life Care in the Post-Operative ; 69. Training on Newly Deceased Patients; ; 70. Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Low-Burden Care; ; 71. Physician Assisted Suicide: Has It Come of Age?