Education, Ethics and History: The Peer Review Process in the US.

Despite the near-universal acceptance of the benefits of a sound peer-review process (PRP), the topic of peer review remains a source of controversy among surgeons. The current PRP is plagued by heterogeneity across different hospital and institutional systems. These inconsistencies, combined with a perceived lack of fairness inherent to the PRP in some institutions lead to concerns among practicing surgeons. In the following review of the relevant literature on the PRP, we attempt to provide some context and insight into the history of the PRP, its role, its shortcomings, its potential abuses, and some key requirements for its successful execution.