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Plastic surgery sector's loopholes

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-30 15:34

Wang Bei, a girl who dreamed of becoming a star, died while undergoing cosmetic surgery recently. This calls for stricter supervision of the cosmetic surgery industry, says an article in Jinghua Times. Excerpts:

Wang Bei thought a cosmetic surgery would "enhance" her beauty and thus help her become a star. But she died in the process. Her death has raised some important questions.

Wang cannot be blamed for going under the knife to become "more beautiful", because many women (and even men) undergo plastic surgery nowadays to change their appearance. It is the responsibility of the plastic surgery industry to ensure no harm is caused to such people, for which stricter supervision of the industry is essential.

Wang decided to undergo a "facial bone grinding" surgery, which is neither complicated nor very difficult. It means her death could have been caused only by medical negligence.

The tragedy reveals the chaos in the cosmetic surgery industry. Loose approval procedures have made many unqualified and/or partly qualified doctors enter the cosmetic surgery industry, which poses a threat to people's lives.

After Wang's death, the Ministry of Health expressed concern and said relevant laws were already in place for the cosmetic surgery industry to follow. But if not implemented properly, even the strictest law can be just scraps of paper.

The cosmetic surgery industry, which can change human appearance, is in dire need of changing itself. Let's hope supervision departments will take appropriate action to ensure that.