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The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) 84:148-150 (2002)
© 2002 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Ethics in Practice

Ghost Surgery: The Ethical and Legal Implications of Who Does the Operation

Mininder S. Kocher, MD, MPH

Abstract

Case 1: A patient who is rehospitalized for complications after shoulder arthroscopy discovers that his surgeon’s partner performed the operation. The orthopaedists contend that they practice as a "team," deciding who does the specific case just prior to the operation1.

Case 2: Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is performed by a resident. The attending orthopaedist scrubs briefly and then leaves to perform a simultaneous procedure in another room. The patient has a postoperative complication2.

Case 3: Carpal tunnel release is performed by a resident, under the supervision of an attending orthopaedist who has been present for the entire case and who has introduced the resident as his assistant in the informed-consent process. The median nerve is injured by the resident3.


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