Ethical considerations when implementing new technology into the operating room

Abstract

The development of new technology is imperative for the advancement of surgery, yet there are multiple ethical considerations that must be made when introducing new technology to the operating room. In this paper, we discuss several specific challenges facing surgeon-innovators, as well as other parties including patients, at every stage of the implementation process. Early in the development of a new technology, one of these ethical dilemmas is a challenge to the informed consent process due to an inherent appeal to novelty for both surgeons and their patients. Early stages of development may be plagued by conflicts of interest between stakeholders as well. Beyond conflicts of interest with hospital systems, industry, and patients, surgeon-innovators must consider potential internal conflicts based on their multiple professional roles as well. Following the initial implementation of a new technology, persistent ethical issues include the ambiguous transition from innovation to accepted practice and the lack of clear responsibility for long-Term training and oversight. For these long-Term issues, there is a clear need for formalized curricula and oversight bodies to ensure the safe dissemination of new technologies. To promote the safe and timely introduction of new technologies, each of these concerns must be taken into consideration throughout the development process for new surgical technologies.