Suing Cosmetic Surgeons
When things go wrong the impact can be particularly distressing.
High hopes turn to resentment, and often a patient is injured or disfigured.
This can arise in cosmetic surgery or paying for weight loss surgery.
The surgery is overwhelmingly provided by the private sector and under contract and most patients self-refer.
Consent to the surgery is a key issue.
The first contact is usually with a non-medically qualified salesperson, who has a direct financial incentive to push the patient to consent to the surgery.
Warnings of vivid scarring or serious infection ought to be given, but are not as it might dissuade the patient from paying up.
Surgeons often do not contact the patient’s GP, or arrange appropriate physical and psychological screening or counselling.
Like plastic surgery, the General Medical Council (GMC) does not hold a specialist register and the way in which the surgeon holds himself up to the public is important.
Often a patient pays a single sum to a company providing the premises but may not have a direct contract with the surgeon. A significant number of the cosmetic surgeons working in the UK live abroad, and therefore there could be difficulties enforcing judgment.
If a patient has purchased a package which includes flights, hotel and surgery, then there is a good argument for saying that the patient can sue the package provider.
If you have had cosmetic or weight reduction surgery that has gone wrong, consult the expert.
