Dr. Vijay SharmaDr. Vijay Sharma

PresidentPresident

Federation of Restorative and Cosmetic SurgeryFederation of Restorative and Cosmetic Surgery

Mumbai, INDIAMumbai, INDIA

Duties and rights of cosmetic surgeon

Dear, colleagues and friends,It was a great pleasure indeed to be with you all at the 48 th Annual and World Congress of International Academy of Cosmetic Surgery with International Board of Cosmetic Surgery Certification 2003 in association with the 6 th Annual meeting of Bulgaria Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the 11th Annual meeting of the National Bulgarian Society of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine.

Today I am discussing a very sensitive subject, which is guarded by fine boundaries of consciousness, hidden sign of wisdom, physician's magical touch of healing and an artist's hidden potential to turn hen into the peacock. But above all we have certain responsibilities towards society. As well as we must be aware of our rights and duties. Lets discuss the duties and rights of cosmetic surgeon because after all cosmetic surgeon believes in "Eye of an artist, hand of a surgeon, and a very personal attention".

Duties and rights of cosmetic surgeon

1. A cosmetic surgeon, as a noble medical professional. He has to render services to humanity, a reward of financial gains is secondary and is a subordinate consideration,

Keeping in mind "a Cosmetic Surgeon should be an upright man instructed in art of healing". Though surgery lies skin deep, but the impact lies much deeper in mind, hence by performing surgeries for changing the external appearance, actually cosmetic surgeon is treating a patient at an emotional level, to achieve extra measure of inner confidence about the self It's important for a cosmetic surgeon to explain and educate the patient before operation about all the good and bad aspects of anticipated results, aesthetic achievement as well as, what if any thing goes wrong.

2. A cosmetic surgeon must keep himself pure in character and be diligent in caring for the needy. He should be modest, sober, patient, prompt and to perform his duty without pious without going so far as superstition conducting himself with propriety in his possession and in all the actions of his life career and medical practice.

3. A cosmetic surgeon should always keep in mind that he has to render service to humanity with full respect for the dignity of man. A cosmetic surgeon should merit the confidence of patients entrusted to their care a cosmetic surgeon must be rendering services to each a full measure of service and devotion, without zeo Paradise in race, caste, colour, age, sex, geographical distribution or socio-economic status and prestige position or power of the person. A cosmetic surgeon should try continuously to improve his knowledge and skill through continuous medical education and should make it available to their patients and colleagues for the benefit of their professional attainments. A cosmetic surgeon should practice the method in improving upon appearance founded of scientific basis and should not associate professionally any one who violates this principle. The honoured ideals of cosmetic surgery and medical operations imply that the responsibilities of a doctor extend not only to the individual but also to the society.

4. Solicitation of a patient directly and indirectly, by a physician or a group of physician, by an institution or organization without patient's willful desire of improving upon appearance is unethical. A cosmetic surgeon shall not make use of or aid or permit others to make use of him or his name for publicity through lay channels either alone or in conjunction with others. But a medical practitioner is permitted formal announcement for cosmetic surgery regarding the following

a. Announcement on changing address.

b. Announcement on changing of type of practice.

c. Announcement at the time of starting practice

d. Announcement on temporary absence from duty.

e. Announcement on resumption of practice succeeding to another practice.

f. Announcement for learning a new technique.

g. Announcement on achieving some laureates, honour, and awards.

h. Announcing for the conference.

i. Announcement for elected as board examiner or international faculty or Editor of journal of international repute.

5. An ethical cosmetic surgeon, engaged in the practice of medicine, shall limit his source of income received from professional activities for the services rendered to his patients. Remuneration received for such services should be in the form and amount specifically announced to the patient at the time the service is rendered accordingly to the affordability of patient. It is absolutely unethical to enter into a contract of " no cure no payment". A cosmetic surgeon must be kind, considerate, gentle and responding to the sensitivity of patient's legitimate requirement.

6. A cosmetic surgeon must remember that any patent surgical instrument, appliances and medicine or copyright publications methods and procedure, which retards or inhibits research or restrict the benefits derivable there from are unethical.

7. A cosmetic surgeon should not indulge into the sale of medicine, for dispensing prescription prescribed by doctors other than himself or for sale of medical and surgical appliance which is exploiting patients.

8. A cosmetic surgeon shall not give, solicit or receive nor shall he offer to give, solicit or receive, any gift, gratuity, commission or bonus in consideration of or in return for referring, recommending or procuring any patient of cosmetic surgical of cosmetic medical treatment. However, cosmetic surgeon shall prohibit payment of salaries by qualified cosmetic surgeon to other cosmetic colleagues rendering medical care under this supervision.

9. Secret remedies it is absolutely unethical to prescribe or dispense secret remedical agents does not show the composition or the manufacture of secret medicine.

10. A cosmetic surgeon should observe the laws of country in regulating the practice of cosmetic surgeon and medicine. And shall not assist anybody to evade such laws. A cosmetic surgeon should be cooperative in observance and enforcement of sanitary. Laws and observations in the interest of public health. Cosmetic surgeon should follow the Acts like Drug Acts, Pharmacy Act, Poisonous and Dangerous Drug Act. Rules regulations made by government or local administrative body. However, reserve his right to recommend timely amendments, and such acts, rules and regulations which ever is applicable accordingly to place, time, person and circumstances.

11. A cosmetic surgeon is not bound to treat each and every patient asking for his services except in valid circumstances, emergency and for the sake of humanity and the noble tradition of the profession, strongly recommends a cosmetic surgeon to be ever ready to respond to the calls of needy, but should be mindful of the high character of his mission. A cosmetic surgeon should never forget that the health and the life and those entrusted of his care depend on his skill and attention.

12. A cosmetic surgeon must remember patient's secrecy and delicacy should characterize in him. Confidence concerning individual or domestic life entrusted by patients to a Cosmetic Surgeon and defects in the disposition or character of patients observed during medical attendance should never be revealed unless their revelation is required by the laws of state.

13. A cosmetic surgeon is free to choose whom he will serve but he should, however, respond to any request for his assistance by other professional colleagues or in emergency or whenever temperate public opinion expects the service. A cosmetic surgeon shall willfully commit an act of negligence that may deprive his patient from necessary medical care.

These are the un drafted laws governed by the consciousness to an honest cosmetic surgeon however, as per desire, requirement, and feasibility of individual, patients, colleagues, institutes or society. Cosmetic surgeon must serve with proper balance in between the hopes and expectations, through limitations of surgery according to latest knowledge available on the planet, earth. As no doubt he is a sculptor, as he designs faces and figures. But must remember unlike god, he is answerable to his own creations. ………………All the Best

Thank youThank you

Dr. Vijay Sharma, M.D.Mumbai, INDIA