o Peter Angelos, (MD, PhD), chief of endocrine surgery and associate director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, states that: “The ethical responsibility we have as physicians is to provide the highest quality with the maximum efficiency or lower cost. I would suggest that there is an ethical imperative to benefit each patient to the greatest extent possible,” he said. “If using a robot leads to more or better outcomes, then the cost to the insurance company should be a secondary concern.” But when a patient may be asked to pay additional costs or the full cost of surgery, disclosure of the cost and potential financial harm is “absolutely relevant” (Frangou, 2015). The cost of robotic surgery should be discussed with patients regardless of who pays. The patient has the right to know how every penny will be spent. They also need to know if there are any side effects after surgery that may require additional doctor visits

Topic > o Peter Angelos, (MD, PhD), chief of endocrine surgery and associate director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, states that: “The ethical responsibility we have as physicians is to provide the highest quality with the maximum efficiency or lower cost. I would suggest that there is an ethical imperative to benefit each patient to the greatest extent possible,” he said. “If using a robot leads to more or better outcomes, then the cost to the insurance company should be a secondary concern.” But when a patient may be asked to pay additional costs or the full cost of surgery, disclosure of the cost and potential financial harm is “absolutely relevant” (Frangou, 2015). The cost of robotic surgery should be discussed with patients regardless of who pays. The patient has the right to know how every penny will be spent. They also need to know if there are any side effects after surgery that may require additional doctor visits