Surgical dermatoethics for the trainee

Proficiency in performing dermatologic procedures is obtained by practice, and residents practice with real patients. The imperative of training new generations of dermatologists must be achieved while patient autonomy is respected and the highest standards of patient safety are upheld. This article examines ethical considerations that are inherent to the training process in procedural dermatology, including disclosing training status, informing patients of experience level with a particular procedure, and the need for graded responsibility under appropriate supervision.