Irresponsible (adj.): Describes actions, publications, or decisions in medicine that ignore foreseeable consequences, lack accountability, or fail to prioritize patient safety and clinical evidence.

A surgical technique, article, or recommendation is irresponsible when it:

• Promotes innovation without outcome data
• Extrapolates high-risk practices to inappropriate settings
• Omits discussion of complications, alternatives, or patient selection
• Elevates technology over judgment
• Fails to report long-term consequences

“Publishing a glowing review of minimally invasive brain metastasis surgery without addressing survival, recurrence, or quality of life is academically irresponsible.”

• Academic negligence
• Clinical overreach
• Evidence-free enthusiasm
• Therapeutic recklessness

Antonyms: evidence-based, cautious, ethical, responsible.