From Person to Patient: Power, Control and the Construction of Vulnerability in the Operating Room

The operating room is a highly organised clinical environment in which patients experience a shift from autonomous individuals to dependent recipients of care. This transformation is often regarded as a clinical necessity, but it is also actively shaped by everyday practices, organisational structures and professional interactions. This study explored how healthcare professionals interpret mechanisms of power, control and patient vulnerability in the operating room. A qualitative design was used, employing semi-structured interviews with 32 healthcare professionals (13 perioperative nurses, 6 nurse anaesthetists and 13 surgeons) from a general hospital. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: (1) From person to patient: loss of control and transformation in the operating room; (2) The body as object: routinised practice and negotiated authority; and (3) Ethics under pressure: dignity and vulnerability in everyday practice. The findings show that patient vulnerability is not only a consequence of clinical condition but also actively produced through routine practices, hierarchical relations and organisational priorities. Anaesthesia emerged as a critical turning point, where attention shifts from the person to the procedure. Although these practices are often normalised as necessary for efficiency and safety, they may contribute to reduced patient visibility and agency.