Cannon

Challenges to the Role of Medicine and the Relationships InvolvedAccording to some bioethicists, there are

aspects of cosmetic surgery that are at odds with the “internal morality of medicine”

Challenges to the Role of Medicine and the Relationships InvolvedAccording to the Hasting’s Report:

Prevention of disease and injuryPromotion and maintenance of healthRelief of pain and suffering due to a maladyThe care and cure of those with maladies

(including palliative care)The avoidance of a premature death and the

pursuit of a peaceful death

Challenges to the Role of Medicine and the Relationships InvolvedAdvertisements

http://www.doctordirectonline.com/c-38-print-ads.aspx

Ties to ElitismNearly all cosmetic surgery reinforces an

unrealistic image that has racist, sexist, and classist undertones.

http://www.cosmeticplasticsurgerystatistics.com/statistics.html#2008-HIGHLIGHTS

Ties to ElitismNearly all cosmetic surgery reinforces an

unrealistic image that has racist, sexist, and classist undertones.Racism: Outline of the History of Humanity

(1798) German Philosopher Christoph Meiners correlated physical beauty with intelligence.

Ties to ElitismNearly all cosmetic surgery reinforces an

unrealistic image that has racist, sexist, and classist undertones (Gabourey Sidibe)

Cosmetic Surgery is morally worrisomeSupport of such images breeds discontent,

vanity, perfectionism….both on the level of the collective and the individual.

ANNE E. BECKER, PhD: Eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to television among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/180/6/509

Cosmetic Surgery is morally worrisomeSupport of such images breeds discontent,

vanity, perfectionism….both on the level of the collective and the individual.

Cosmetic surgery is getting more, not less popular.http://www.cosmeticplasticsurgerystatistics.co

m/statistics.html#2008-GRAPHS

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingShould cosmetic surgery be seen as just

another (potentially insignificant choice) of an autonomous person?

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingShould cosmetic surgery be seen as just

another (potentially insignificant choice) of an autonomous person?

Yes and No. The choices are restricted.http://www.law.seattleu.edu/x3006.xml

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingShould cosmetic surgery be seen as just

another (potentially insignificant choice) of an autonomous person?

Yes and No. The choices are restricted.http://www.law.seattleu.edu/x3006.xmlHard and Soft Paternalism

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingShould cosmetic surgery be seen as just

another (potentially insignificant choice) of an autonomous person?

Yes and No. The choices are restricted.http://www.law.seattleu.edu/x3006.xml Hard and Soft PaternalismAre there times that desire for cs is not

insignificant?

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingSometimes desire for cs is not insignificant

ApotemnophiliaGender Identity DisorderOther

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingSummary

There is evidence that cosmetic surgery is at odds with the function and goals of medicine

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingSummary

There is evidence that cosmetic surgery is at odds with the function and goals of medicine

A wide spread valuing of the practice of cs harms members of the collective.

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingSummary

There is evidence that cosmetic surgery is at odds with the function and goals of medicine

A wide spread valuing of the practice of cs harms members of the collective.

Those who are actually suffering often have little access to the assistance cs can supply.

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingSummary

There is evidence that cosmetic surgery is at odds with the function and goals of medicine

A wide spread valuing of the practice of cs harms members of the collective.

Those who are actually suffering often have little access to the assistance cs can supply.

Even if possible, eliminating cs may be paternalistic

Moral Dilemma: Individual Autonomy and Collective ValuingConclusion

Avoid PaternalismReduce Harm