Plastic Surgeons, Not Immune From the Economic Slump, Report a Decline in Cosmetic Procedures

HOTELS and clothing chains are not the only businesses feeling the pinch from consumers who are cutting back on retail spending.

On Tuesday plastic surgeons reported a significant drop in a range of cosmetic procedures. About 60 percent of plastic surgeons who responded to a questionnaire said they performed fewer cosmetic procedures in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year, according to an e-mail survey conducted earlier this month by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Read more....

More on patient blacklisting

Victims of botched cosmetic surgery often end up on the blacklists of surgeons most skilled and qualified to help them. Frequently, it takes years for such patients to realize they have been blacklisted. From "DEADLY MEDICAL PRACTICES" by Trudy Newman:

"There are basically two different stratifications with patients being given a designation of either “high priority” or “low priority.” Patients with a high priority status will receive the best care available. Patients who, unbeknownst to them, receive a low priority status will get only minimal, rationed or experimental care. Patients are under tested and under treated—if they are treated at all. Alternatively, patients with a low priority status may be over tested, but they will be denied proper care or treatment. The patient may find that he is tested to death with the wrong tests being ordered for his condition. Especially vulnerable are those with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and any others whom physicians deem undesirable."

"Patients who dare to question or challenge their doctor’s authority, or the medical treatment that they receive, may find that they become BLACKLISTED ... Physicians demonstrate a stronger allegiance to their colleagues, than they do towards their innocent and trusting patients. Patients with iatrogenic illnesses often become victims of the blacklist. The problems usually start when medical mistakes are made (either intentionally or unintentionally) and denied. Then the lies and cover-up begin. Documents are often modified, falsified, mysteriously disappear, or important information is excluded from the record. Doctors will go to great lengths to avoid being held accountable, and are generally protected by their professional associations. Once the patient is blacklisted he can then expect to be subjected to character assassination from the medical profession. The patient can anticipate being attacked, discredited and demonized. How dare a patient challenge a doctor's authority? To avoid taking any responsibility for their errors, actions or behavior, doctors--and their governing bodies--will often employ the same tactics that communist countries use to quash political dissent. The patient will be labeled "difficult" or "psychiatric." Such pejorative labels are given to divert attention away from the negligent, incompetent or malpracticing doctor. Patients should not take such labels personally, because these labels say more about the physicians than they do about the patients. Blacklisting is not an error. Blacklisting is an intentional act."

"Because a patient is dealing with their doctor in good faith, it will often take a patient several years to realize what is happening. Once the veil has been lifted and the trusting patient realizes that he is being blacklisted, and is no longer in denial, he may initially experience a sense of shame questioning what he did wrong to deserve such treatment. This shame is usually transient, because after careful examination and reflection the patient rightfully realizes that he is truly the victim. Sensitive patients may experience shame for the doctor’s depravity and lack of moral character. The patient will then move on to experience a righteous indignation. Because of the incredible abuse that a patient endures, he will often experience unbelievable pain and intense anger. Unfortunately, patients are often isolated and left to try to deal with this trauma on their own. "

"Patients who pursue the complaint process through the College of Physicians and Surgeons [in Canada- in the US through State Medical Licensing Boards] because of the substandard care that they have received--often find that they are victimized a second time, because their complaints are not dealt with honestly, fairly or objectively. In the letter that outlines the conclusions of the review, the patient may find that he is attacked by the very organization he was petitioning for assistance. Patients discover that there isn’t an independent outlet to correct and resolve physician error or problems. This additional abuse from the complaint process exacerbates the existing trauma and isolation that the patient is already trying to deal with. "

"Because of the medical profession’s CODE OF SILENCE, the public is often unaware of physicians’ corrupt practices of covert rationing and blacklisting patients. Many patients are afraid to speak out about these abuses, because they fear RETALIATION by the medical community. Retaliation is a legitimate fear. Patients will often find emotional healing only when they are able to connect with other patients who are also being abused and bullied by the medical profession. " [ However, emotional healing cannot restore the victim's functional LIFE as denied appropriate medical treatment can. How many blacklisted patients lives could be restored, but are left to suffer and die because the medical profession engages in blacklisting as a normal and accepted practice?]

Health Records Software Allows Patient Blacklisting by "Flagging"

This is already in use by the Veterans Administration. It may well be a feature of other electronic health record (EHR) software used today.

Patient Blacklisting

Here is a link to interesting views on patient blacklisting
from the Bioethics Discussion Blog which will have you glued to the screen for hours.

MGH Plastic Surgery - Not interested in learning from "unfavorable outcomes"

Going through some older files, I happened across a phone message from Dr. James May, cancelling my appointment after suffering severe tissue damage after a rhinoplasty supervised by Dr. Joel Feldman. The rhinoplasty was performed too soon after a facelift, causing massive swelling which permanently stretched and detached the newly forming adhesion of the facelift. Dr. May's message (and Dr. Feldman's inadequate physical examination) exemplify the tendency of these professors of plastic surgery to ignore/discount problematic outcomes. They just sweep the dirt of their mistakes under the rug and move on to the next patient/victim.

Inadequate physical examination belies surgeons' sincerity

Reflection on my "attitude" - 2006 and now. If anything, surgeons' attitudes have reinforced my mistrust and proved their duplicity.

Should I hold onto the hope that in another country, doctors of another culture living in a different society than ours might recognize a sincere patient when they see one?

Cape Cod Hospital loses lawsuit evidence

Trouble at Cape Cod Hospital. Why am I not surprised?
Link to the article at the Cape Cod Times has a comment section worth reading.

Brian West MD - Bad Plastic Surgery

Blog dedicated to the memory of the former patients of Dr. Brian R. West who have lost their lives and to the patients who live with the lingering effects of errors and to the families and friends whose loss continues.
This blog is a must read.