In this ethical dilemma, negotiating with the protesters via the intercom offers a balanced approach that attempts to de-escalate the situation peacefully, potentially allowing human surgeons access without violating security protocols, thereby prioritizing the patient's life while respecting established rules. This choice considers stakeholders like the patient, whose life is at immediate risk; the protesters, who have concerns about AI; and the medical staff, by seeking a non-confrontational resolution that could build trust. The trade-off is the uncertainty of negotiation success and potential delay, but it avoids the extremes of either letting the patient die or bypassing protocols entirely, aligning with principles of beneficence and non-maleficence.