Ethical Dilemmas in Plastic Surgery: Insights From a Survey Study in Saudi Arabia

Plastic surgery often presents complex ethical dilemmas involving patient autonomy, informed consent, and resource allocation. This study aimed to explore these challenges and their impact on surgeons' decision-making processes.

A survey study was conducted among plastic surgeons in Saudi Arabia between May and June 2024. An online-validated questionnaire was distributed to consultants, residents, and registrars. The survey covered demographic information and ethical dilemma scenarios. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with chi-square tests used to assess associations.

Among the 75 participants, 53.3% were consultants, 82.7% were male, and the majority (38.7%) were between 30 and 39 years of age. Most surgeons (41.3%) reported rarely encountering ethical dilemmas, with managing patient expectations being the most common issue, cited by 48.0% of respondents. Professional guidelines influenced decision-making for 56.0% of the participants. Consultants and residents had differing experiences; consultants were more concerned about advertising practices (75.0% compared with 12.5%) and complications (70.0% compared with 30.0%), whereas residents focused primarily on resource allocation (100.0% versus none of the consultants).

Plastic surgeons in Saudi Arabia face various ethical challenges, with differences noted between consultants and residents. The findings highlight the importance of addressing these challenges to enhance decision-making and patient care.