Ken Doll 60th Plastic Surgery: Too Much?
In an article posted by the UK edition of The Sun on Tuesday Dec 5th, the headline blared the sensational title, “Human Ken Doll Rodrigo Alves reveals he’s going ahead with his 60th plastic surgery operation even if it KILLS him.” I believe that physicians have an ethical duty to screen patients for unhealthy requests for repeated elective cosmetic plastic surgery. It is discomforting that the colleague mentioned in the article is performing this surgery and is willing to do this 60th procedure. I hear alarm bells for a patient that most probably has issues with his appearance and an insatiable quest for fame at all costs. More troubling is the fact that multiple surgeons, including his latest surgeon, Dr. Michael K Obeng, even admits that Rodrigo is “not normal” but will nonetheless take the money and garner publicity for doing this rib removal procedure. At what point should we all be guided by our ethics? Certainly in medicine we should be held to higher standards. Is Mr. Alves a victim, well maybe? However, some patients seek out anybody willing to take their money when other surgeons advise against a certain surgery and turn them away. As a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it is particularly bothersome when board certified plastic surgeons perhaps sidestep ethics to indulge patients that might be better served by suggesting a psychiatric consultation.
Listen to more as I join the discussion on Tom Barnard Podcast.
