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October 27, 2016, 12:00 PM

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Concurrent, or overlapping, surgeries involve the simultaneous scheduling of substantial portions of two or more surgeries under the supervision of a single surgeon, requiring delegation of responsibility to trainees and assistants if necessary. The practice is not uncommon, especially at teaching hospitals, but patients often have no idea that their doctor may also be operating on someone else at the same time. This panel discussion described the practice, its risks and benefits, and recommended approaches to preserve patient trust and safety.

Panelists

  • Jonathan Saltzman, Reporter, The Boston Globe Spotlight Team (contributor to “Clash in the Name of Care”) - Setting the Stage: Key issues and concerns raised by concurrent surgeries, patient experiences and outcomes

  • Griffith R. Harsh IV, MD, MA, MBA, FACS, Professor of Neurosurgery and Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education, Stanford University - Surgeon’s Perspective: Pros and cons of concurrent scheduling, pressures to schedule this way, potential impact on patients, and the recent statement by the American College of Surgeons

  • I. Glenn Cohen, JD, Professor, Harvard Law School; Faculty Director, Petrie-Flom Center - Legal and ethical perspectives: Institutional risk, medical malpractice, informed consent, and applicable regulations

  • Moderator: Robert Truog, MD, Frances Glessner Lee Professor of Medical Ethics, Anaesthesia, & Pediatrics and Director, Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School; Executive Director, Institute for Professionalism & Ethical Practice and Senior Associate in Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital

This event was free and open to the public.

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Sponsored by the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School and the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School, with support from the Oswald DeN. Cammann Fund.


Videos

VIDEO: Introductions

VIDEO: Jonathan Saltzman, "Setting the Stage"

VIDEO: Griffith R. Harsh "Surgeon’s Perspective"

VIDEO: Glenn Cohen "Legal and ethical perspectives"

VIDEO: Audience Q & A

Tags

bioethics   doctor patient relationship   health law policy   i. glenn cohen   medical safety   public health   regulation