The whole person beneath the drapes: a philosophical reflection on human-centeredness in the operating room.
Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM November 5, 2025 Saeid Amini Rarani 1 citation
In the operating room, patients can become physically present but experientially and ontologically overlooked—their subjectivity lost under anesthesia and their recognition as persons of moral worth eroded by drapes, protocols, and clinical shorthand. This philosophical reflection draws on René Descartes' Meditations and Carl Rogers' humanistic psychology to examine how Cartesian dualism has fostered depersonalizing tendencies in biomedicine and how Rogers' principles of empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard can reframe ethical care in surgery. The paper distinguishes necessary clinical objectivity from harmful detachment, reconceptualizes the anesthetized patient as morally present despite unconsciousness, and reframes the surgical team as a therapeutic environment where patient dignity is upheld. Integrating Rogers' philosophy deepens technical precision with moral clarity, positioning surgery as a profoundly moral encounter.