Ethical, Moral and Legal Guidelines for Adult Surgery: Concerns re Innovative Surgery

Concerns re innovative surgery continually change.

Sciencedirect.com raises an area of concern in the realm of ethical, moral and legal guidelines for innovative adult surgery.

In an article entitled “Ethics of innovative surgery: US surgeons’ definitions, knowledge, and attitudes”, it has been suggested that

“Innovative surgery is not clearly defined, nor is it formally regulated by governing bodies as is the development of drugs and medical devices.”

What does this mean and why is this of concern, particularly in our era?

“The Journal of Medical Ethics” website suggests that “Innovative surgery raises four kinds of ethical challenges: potential harms to patients; compromised informed consent; unfair allocation of healthcare resources; and conflicts of interest.”

Innovative surgery implies something new and different in the surgical realm. It may be the direct result of original thought or recent, technological advances in surgery. It is groundbreaking in that it appears to be ahead of its time or is heading towards the promotion of more progressive schools of thought, for the future.

The realm of adult surgery is continually expanding its horizons in terms of innovation with new ethical, moral and legal implications that may surpass the expectations of those who attempt to set and regulate guidelines for it

One must suggest that there are no easy answers with respect to setting guidelines for adult surgery, particularly when innovation of thought is the primary factor taken into consideration. At the same time, a move to stifle innovation or innovative research with respect to surgical intervention, may not be the ideal solution either. 

Anything that is truly innovative with respect to surgery may generate a certain amount of fear. At the same time, technological advances allow the possibility of surgical intervention on a level unsurpassed by time and history.

Innovative surgical procedures for adults may be possible now, simply because there are new technological advances that make them possible. At the same time, there may be limited, if any research to support new surgical procedures.

Innovative surgeons need to tread carefully in unknown territory, in every era. What they document in terms of medical records is important, as this is the basis for future research.

New windows of hope are opening daily, as advancing surgical technology leads to improved surgical care for patients, all around the world. Can one suggest that these changes will not bring adverse or negative concerns in terms of ethical, moral and legal realms of innovative thought, as well?