Surgical Procedures Donated for Charity Auction
The decision to perform any surgical procedure should be made only after
an appropriate examination of the patient and a consultation regarding the
procedure's risks and benefits. Auctioning surgical procedures may create
unrealistic expectations for patients who are not appropriate candidates
for the procedure. The auctioning of surgical procedures may place the
physician in a difficult position to objectively assess whether the
patient who won the auction is an appropriate candidate for the auctioned
procedure. Therefore, it is inappropriate and unethical for physicians to
offer or provide a surgical procedure or significant medical intervention
as an auction prize (for charitable or commercial purposes). (JC Rpt A,
A-01) (Amended A-23)
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Abbreviations for House of Delegates report origination:
EC – Executive Committee; BT – Board of Trustees; CPA – Council on Professional Affairs; JC – Judicial Council; CHS – Community and Health Services