Should Considerations in Patient Dignity Affect Our Surgical Decisions?

Surgical treatment of massive stoma site tumors after a curative operation for rectal cancer

“…Whether to abide by the principles of R0 surgical resection or to allow a patient to live with dignity for a limited period may already transcend the academic categorization of traditional surgery. We have previously considered whether surgical strategies can affect a patient's dignity, and this remains a challenging clinical problem to be solved using a combination of surgery and social science [8]. Allowing a patient to live a peaceful and dignified life is also a responsibility of medics, as well as the essential responsibility of the surgeons during the palliative treatment of cancer patients.…”

“…Moreover, patients with massive stoma site tumors often have a series of accompanying sociopsychological and medical ethical problems [8]. Stoma site tumors are a problem in surgical practice.…”

Medical norms and ethical principles: thoughts and dilemmas of an oncology surgeon

“…Three years ago, I met a 32-year-old male patient. [ 1 ] After undergoing abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer, the patient's cancer recurred at the stoma site. The tumor was so large that no stoma protector could cover it at the stoma site.…”