Which Systemic Responses Should We Evolve to Help Surgeons Navigate Their Regret Experiences?

Regret in surgical practice is typically construed as resulting from the commission or the omission of a specific action at a specific decision point, which leads to a deleterious outcome. This article suggests a need to expand this conception of surgical regret to better account for surgeons' regret experiences arising from factors beyond their control. The commentary accompanying the case investigates these external sources of regret, such as resource limitations or professional interpersonal dynamics that prevent a desired outcome from being realized. It also discusses the normative value of addressing surgeons' experiences of regret, especially as a catalyst to facilitate positive systemic changes to ameliorate surgeons' kindred experiences of moral distress, burnout, and compassion fatigue.