Should victims of cosmetic surgery malpractice be able to sue the doctor whom 'treated' them?

Question

I think it could force cosmetic surgery industry standards to go much higher up as a result and lead to fewer mistakes.

Answer 1

They can sue now.  Nothing stopping them.

Answer 2

They can - it's called medical malpractice.

Answer 3

Victims can and do sue negligent drs for cosmetic surgery just as they can in any case of negligence. Here is an exerpt explaining that one reason people are getting so many botched boob jobs and nose jobs is because they simply don't take the time to see if their dr is board certified or if he/she has any malpractice cases against them.  Here's what it says:

"Sadly, many patients remain uninformed about the qualifications they should be looking for and the warning signs that indicate a poor physician and a risky procedure. As a result, many patients walk away unhappy with their results, and in some cases gravely ill because of plastic surgery malpractice or cosmetic surgery malpractice.



For example, a plastic surgeon who cannot produce certification for a specific state may be hiding the fact that he or she has no certification at all since it is a nationwide Federal exam and is valid nationwide. Every cosmetic surgeon should be certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS) and facial plastic surgeons should be certified with the ABPS and the American Board of Otolaryngology. Additionally, if a plastic surgeon avoids discussing risk factors of various procedures, does not have proper resuscitation equipment in his or her office and does not address a plan of action in case of issues during the surgery, you may want to consider seeking a different physician. Remember that just because a physician is personable and seems competent does not mean that they are."

Some people want to go to the cheapest dr, or as stated above, they do not do any research regarding which surgeon they are going to. If you are going to have a cosmetic procedure done, imo you are just as negligent if you don't research the plastic surgeon whose doing your surgery. People should always remember that you get what you pay for.