The surgeon -rationalist- change agent: Stepping into our calling

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Health Equity
• Surgical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Historically, surgical advancements rely on rigorous evaluation and outcome analysis.
• Disparities in surgical outcomes are a significant concern in healthcare.
• Implicit bias is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to these disparities, alongside social determinants of health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the critical need for surgeons to apply their inherent rationalism and discipline to address disparities in surgical outcomes.
• To highlight the role of implicit bias in creating unequal patient outcomes.
• To advocate for surgeons to actively manage their biases for improved patient care.

Main Methods:

• This abstract is conceptual, drawing on historical professional practices and current understanding of bias in medicine.
• It calls for a rigorous, evidence-based approach to tackling bias.
• It emphasizes self-reflection and collective responsibility among surgeons.

Main Results:

• Implicit bias significantly contributes to disparities in surgical outcomes.
• Managing personal and collective biases is essential for providing equitable surgical care.
• Addressing bias is a responsibility for surgeons as individuals and as a profession.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons must proactively confront implicit bias to ensure equitable patient outcomes.
• Professional rigor and a commitment to self-improvement are key to overcoming healthcare disparities.
• Surgeons have a responsibility to lead societal change in addressing bias in medicine.