Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Intraoperative Assessment of Resection Margins in Oral Cavity Cancer: This is the Way
Published on: May 10, 2021
Conformity: the hidden actor in surgical decisions
Alvaro Sanabria1, Carlos Betancourt2, Luis Carlos Domínguez3
1Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
Abstract:
Conformity in decision making has a relevant impact in surgical environments. This manuscript reveals how group-based opinions can distort the surgeon's individual judgment, even in critical situations. Two key phenomena are analysed: communication cascades and group polarisation, which amplify conformity and lead to extreme and sometimes harmful decisions. It is important to highlight the importance of evidence-based education, critical thinking, and diversification of information sources to counteract the negative effects of conformity. Self-identifying conformist tendencies, encouraging open debate, and implementing constructive dissent strategies can help mitigate the effects of conformity in decision-making. Reviewing authority models and promoting diversity in surgical settings may improve decision-making and the quality of patient care.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Obedience
Conformity
Persuasion Strategies
Psychosurgery
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Social Proof
Milgram's Obedience to Authority

