News Release

Surgery: A profession in crisis?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

The Lancet_DELETED

The lead Editorial in this week's Lancet discusses the lack of professionalism and leadership within the surgical profession and calls for urgent reform: "Surgeons are renowned for their imaginative solutions, translating ideas into practice, and for leading teams. All these skills are needed to redefine surgery's role and extend its benefits to wider populations."

Today's Lancet also includes Comments, Perspectives, Articles, and Viewpoints which examine the ethics, evidence, and equity in contemporary surgery, and provide examples of how a clear vision of surgical professionalism can be translated into daily practice.

In last year's surgery-themed issue [Sept 26, 2009], The Lancet raised concerns about the standards and quality of some surgeons' research and practice, and introduced the IDEAL recommendations as solutions to the problems facing the field of surgery. It also challenged surgeons to transform their specialty into a world-class discipline, but has progress been made?

Recent headlines in the UK suggest not and hint at "not so much a world-class discipline, but a profession adrift", claims the Editorial. For example, a recent report by the UK National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death on Cosmetic surgery voiced concerns over inadequately equipped operating theatres, anaesthetic cover, and emergency care provision. The Editorial says: "That such revelations must come from outside the surgical community implies a lack of professionalism and leadership among the surgeons involved."

It adds: "Surgeons as patients' advocates should be active and united in drawing attention to inadequacies as part of an agenda of reform that promotes professionalism and leadership".

So why are surgeons largely absent from this debate and from higher positions in health care, asks the Editorial. "Is this because surgery is too fragmented into subspecialities, too introspective, or too disinterested?"

It concludes: "By uniting stakeholders and identifying opportunities, surgeons can help overcome disparities within and between health-care systems. Broadening surgical influence effectively requires strong, visible leadership and a commitment to education that develops the core principles and unique skills of the profession; otherwise surgery's noblest aspirations risk being subsumed by the basest common interests."

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The Lancet Press Office T) +44 (0)207 424 4949 E) pressoffice@lancet.com

For full Editorial see: http://press.thelancet.com/editorials2509.pdf


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