Should Cosmetic Surgeons Be Influenced By Societys Social Norms As Illistrated In The Ethics Of Complicity By Margaret Olivia Little essays

Should Cosmetic Surgeons Be Influenced By Societys Social Norms As Illistrated In The Ethics Of Complicity By Margaret Olivia Little essays A physician, as any other professional, has a job to do. Granted, the job does entail the preservation of human life, a characteristic which holds great importance and prestige in our society. But why should he/she also be burdened with the responsibility of making societys moral decisions? A physician has no more responsibility for our view of normal than a fry jockey at McDonalds. Although Littles article does raise some truths, I will argue that physicians, particularly cosmetic surgeons, should neither be responsible for nor influenced by societys social norms when approached by a patient requesting cosmetic surgery of any sort. Little argues (with a typical Postmodernists attitude) that requests for cosmetic surgery are often motivated by deep and genuine suffering . . . not from a desire for beauty, but from a desire to end a distressing sense of alienation from some body part or to escape incessant teasing due to the suspect norms of appearance (Little,162, 163). Men and women alike are deceived into thinking they need these surgeries due to the deep rooted norms within our society, similar to the way our largely male dominated society has deep rooted itself into our understanding of biology (Freedman). With this in mind, it is difficult to disagree with this argument. However, I do disagree with her query into the appropriateness of medicine to provide cosmetic surgery for purely vain intentions, in an attempt to conform to these norms. If someone is pursuing such a surgery, he/she has his/her own reasoning behind it. What right does a physician have to tell him/her that his/her reasons are not of medical necessity (Little, 162)? The origins of his/her reasons are insignificant. It is true that doctors are obligated to discuss medical risks with their patients, but why should they inform them of ...