Informed consent: a shared decision-making process that creates a new professional obligation for care.

This statement on informed consent, developed by the SAGES Ethics Committee, has been reviewed and approved by the Board of Governors of SAGES. This statement is provided to offer guidance about the purpose and process of obtaining informed consent, and it is intended for practicing surgeons as well as patients seeking surgical intervention. It is an expression of well-established principles and extensive literature.

Ethical considerations regarding the implementation of new technologies and techniques in surgery.

Ethical considerations relevant to the implementation of new surgical technologies and techniques are explored and discussed in practical terms in this statement, including (1) How is the safety of a new technology or technique ensured?; (2) What are the timing and process by which a new technology or technique is implemented at a hospital?; (3) How are patients informed before undergoing a new technology or technique?; (4) How are surgeons trained and credentialed in a new technology or technique?; (5) How are the outcomes of a new technology or technique tracked and evaluated?; and (6) How are the responsibilities to individual patients and society at large balanced? The following discussion is presented with the intent to encourage thought and dialogue about ethical considerations relevant to the implementation of new technologies and new techniques in surgery.

Portal vein thrombosis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a relatively uncommon complication after abdominal surgery.

Case Report: We report an even more unusual case of PVT 10 days after an uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy, believed to be only the fourth reported case in the literature of this rare complication.

Conclusion: Albeit extremely rare, PVT should be included in the differential diagnosis for abdominal symptoms and/or elevated hepatic function tests after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Industry relationships between physicians and professional medical associations: corrupt or essential?

Congress and others have called into question the propriety of relationships between professional medical associations (PMAs) and industry. These relationships are critical to the continued development of new and better devices and procedures for patients. Better guidelines are needed to help guide these relationships.