.png)
The Declaration of Sydney is a global, independent ethical commitment guiding the responsible development and use of computational and artificial intelligence-enabled technologies in neurosurgery.
It articulates shared principles to ensure that innovation in neurosurgery advances patient welfare, human dignity, professional accountability, and public trust, while safeguarding mental privacy, human rights, and global equity.
The Declaration was presented and pledged at the 1st World Conference of Computational Neurosurgery (WCCNS) in Sydney on the 15th of February 2026, and is stewarded as a living, non-regulatory ethical reference for clinicians, researchers, technologists, policymakers, and institutions worldwide.
Computational and AI-enabled systems are increasingly embedded across neurosurgical practice, from diagnosis and surgical planning to intraoperative guidance, education, and research. While these technologies offer unprecedented opportunity, they also introduce ethical, legal, and societal risks that demand careful governance.
AI must support, not replace, human clinical judgement
Neurosurgeons should remain ethically and professionally accountable for patient care
Neural data and AI-derived insights require heightened protection
Innovation must proceed in a manner that is transparent, equitable, and trustworthy
The Declaration is open for signing by individuals committed to ethical, responsible, and human-centred computational neurosurgery.
The Declaration of Sydney is non-regulatory and does not replace clinical judgment, professional standards, or legal obligations. It serves as a shared ethical reference to guide responsible innovation in neurosurgery.
© 2026 Declaration of Sydney. All rights reserved.
The Declaration of Sydney is a non-regulatory ethical reference. It does not replace clinical judgment, professional standards, or legal obligations. The Declaration serves to guide responsible innovation in neurosurgery.
