Prepare the Slides: Confession in Surgical Education.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Professional Development

Background:

• The Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conference is a long-standing ritual in surgery.
• Its primary purpose is to examine errors and complications, but it often overlooks the emotional and moral impact on trainees.
• This neglect can lead to trainees carrying guilt and emotional burdens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the limitations of the traditional M&M conference in addressing the moral and emotional well-being of surgical trainees.
• To propose a revised M&M framework inspired by the Catholic sacrament of Confession for moral restoration.
• To enhance M&M as a space for both technical and moral formation.

Main Methods:

• Drawing parallels between the structure of the M&M conference and the Catholic sacrament of Confession.
• Analyzing the omission of key elements like contrition and absolution in the M&M process.
• Proposing specific changes to M&M to incorporate moral restoration.

Main Results:

• The traditional M&M conference mirrors the self-examination aspect of Confession but lacks the restorative elements of contrition and absolution.
• This omission results in technically skilled but emotionally and morally fragmented surgeons.
• Trainees are left without a clear path for forgiveness or reintegration after experiencing complications.

Conclusions:

• M&M conferences can be transformed into spaces for moral formation by acknowledging the emotional toll of complications.
• Incorporating elements like shame-free contrition and explicit absolution can restore meaning and hope to surgical training.
• A well-executed M&M can serve as a liturgy of professional renewal, fostering accountability and restoring the humanity of surgeons.