It's important to bear in mind that confidentiality is carefully protected when patients agree to be teaching patients and have their operations videotaped. Participating California licensed physicians will receive temporary privileges. There are several aspects to telemedicine. First, surgery with robotics, which is still some years in the future. Second, surgical broadcast via satellite or telephone lines, which is now here and already at the endoscopy center.
Videotapes are good, but live interaction is much, much different from viewing an edited videotape.
You need to be able to ask questions, and ideally, you need more than one video image. Ultimately, to get the most out of the experience you need to be in the room. The surgeon who is learning needs to see everything possible. There are issues of anesthesia, positioning the patient, positioning the surgeon, positioning the assistants. There are the techniques of safely putting in the trocars.