Cosmetic surgery

Question 1

What topics does the issue of cosmetic surgery relate to?

Answer 1

1. Medicine: What is it good for?
   
   • Health and Wellbeing
   • Evaluating treatments based on their contribution to good health
   • Debates on medical procedures like abortion and VAD (Voluntary Assisted Dying)
   • Infertility and pregnancy as a state of health or wellbeing

Question 2

The basis of cosmetic surgery and relationship to health or wellbeing

Answer 2

• Focusing on aesthetics and certain surgeries related to health
  
  • Justification of cosmetic surgeries based on wellbeing and patient autonomy
    - cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries can improve quality of life and self-esteem
    - not a rule that applies to all patients i.e. aesthetic for one, improved mental health, wellbeing and functioning for another
  • Influence of social and cultural norms on cosmetic surgery decisions
  • Lookism and its impact on women and men
    
    • note that men are becoming increasingly more subject to norms, resulting in increasing uptake among men
    • however people undergoing cosmetic surgery are predominantly women

3. AESTHETICS AND WELLBEING
- Some cosmetic surgeries justified by notions of wellbeing
- Considering patient autonomy in making aesthetic choices: a justification in itself, and regarding public funding; the concern of coerced decisions or being highly influenced by social norms, however this extends to more than just cosmetic surgery aka day to day decisions
- Impact of lookism on women and men in social interactions

Question 3

What are some further issues related to cosmetic surgery

Answer 3

• Psychological disorders and addiction in cosmetic surgery cases: temporary happiness, choices linked to perceived (previous understanding, but..)
  
  • Expanding range of cosmetic procedures, like Labiaplasty/Vaginal Rejuvenation
  • Prophylactic Mastectomy and its complexity: a question of individual autonomy and risk assessment
  • Sterilization as an elective intervention: should be an informed and counselled choice

Question 4

Are vaccines elective? should they be?

Answer 4

• On the surface, elective
  
  • Vaccine choices and inc reasing mandates (E.g. jobs, schools)
  • Nudging or encouraging vaccination through incentives or restrictions

Question 5

Discuss the issue of circumcision

Answer 5

• Comparison of Male Circumcision and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
  
  • Historical and cultural practices of Male Circumcision
  • Health benefits and potential harms of Male Circumcision
  • Infant vs. Adult Male Circumcision and parental discretion
  • Perspective on religious traditions
    note: not medicare subsidised

Question 6

Discuss procedures performed on intersex individuals

Answer 6

• note: not always identifiable at birth
  
  • Differences of Sexual Development (DSD)
  • Invasive surgical procedures on intersex individuals
  • Rejecting medical normalization and the need for informed consent
  • ACT: assessment board – medics, human rights, ethics, variation and psychosocial support
    
    • note: does not cover male circumcision