Basal Cell Carcinoma: ethical and medico-legal issues

Skin cancer has the highest prevalence of all cancer, with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) as the most common form. Patients diagnosed with BCC may benefit from various treatments starting from the gold standard treatment (surgical excision) to non-invasive therapeutic approaches. The goal of the treatment is to remove entire tumor without affecting the physical appearance and with maximal preservation of the function. Given the possible medico-legal consequences due to local destructions and local disfigurement and last but not least, the ethical aspect regarding patient-doctor relationship, the treatment decision should be individualized according to the patient's preferences and the assessment of relative risk of recurrence. However BCCs treatment may raise ethical concerns regarding patient's autonomy versus beneficence and the best interest of the patient.