Abstract
Surgeons are commonly evaluated with respect to outcomes and adherence to rules and regulations, rather than a true holistic examination of the character of the surgeon in question. We sought to examine the character failings of surgeons who faced fitness to practice enquiries under the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service (MPTS) in the United Kingdom. In particular, we examined the absence of virtue as perceived through the lens of Aristotelian ethics using thematic analysis of tribunal hearing transcripts from 2016 to 2020. We identified three overarching themes that are explored in depth: “the god complex”, “reputation over integrity” and “wounded pride”. We hope to use this as the foundation for a re-examination of the place of phronesis in postgraduate surgical education, which we argue should be perceived as an exercise in character development and reformation rather than the simplistic teaching of skills to standardized outcomes.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Medical Ethics |
Early online date | 8 Jan 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 8 Jan 2021 |
Keywords
- surgeon
- character
- Discipline