When Surgeons Are “Too Old” to Practice Surgery: Recommendations to Balance the Imperatives of Public Safety and Practical Necessity

Abstract

Few countries have legally set a maximum age for practicing surgery. This is difficult to sustain as surgeon shortages in many localities require hospitals to grant surgical privileges based on internal peer review systems. This approach is not without problems. Some hospitals and medical societies have developed competency assessment programs. Based on the literature and the experience of various jurisdictions, the authors recommend a policy approach that does not mandate a retirement age for surgeons, but rather a mandatory age of 65 at which surgeons shall be legally subject to periodic assessment of physical dexterity, eye/hand coordination, and cognitive skills.

Keywords:

• Surgeons
• aging
• competency
• assessment
• retirement

Declaration of Interest Statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest or financial interests associated with the writing and submission of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no sources of funding to report in the preparation of this manuscript.