Where's the Value in Preoperative Covenants Between Surgeons and Patients?

ABSTRACT

Values, preferences, and goals all affect patient autonomy. Their meanings are often conflated, so this article clarifies them and also distinguishes between hope and wish. Ethical investigation of preoperative and postoperative clinician-family communication in surgical intensive care units is needed to help mitigate value-incongruent, nonbeneficial operations and postoperative treatments as clinical scenarios unfold.